‘Deaconn is my rock. He kept me out of prison'

DJ Tom Zanetti exclusively opens up to new about his close relationship with his 14-year-old son, how he finds life as a single dad and the reason behind his split from MIC’s Sophie Hermann

- GEMMA McCARTNEY

His hit songs have us bopping away in our cars, but behind that cool persona and those unmistakable club beats, DJ Tom Zanetti is a loving and doting dad with a tragic past.

The star is the sole parent to son Deaconn, 14, after becoming a father at 17 following a chequered history of arrests and “hanging around with the wrong people”.

And while Deaconn’s mum isn’t involved in his life, the little boy’s first mother figure, Tom’s girlfriend Lizzie Pickavance, died in a car crash when he was just three years old.

There’s no denying Tom has been through a lot in his life and now Deaconn is his rock. He affectionately describes the teen as his “best mate” when we catch up with them for our Father’s Day shoot at their home in Wakefield, and it’s a joy to watch the adorable pair banter back and forth. While the subject of Deaconn’s birth mum is off limits, it’s clear the pair are thriving on their own.

“I’m lucky enough to say I’ve never had a problem with him at all. He’s very laid-back, he’s a proper chiller and he’s really mature for his age,” Tom tells us.

Tom’s also tried his luck on reality TV, and viewers will recognise him from the recent series of Celebs Go Dating: The Mansion and his romance with Made In Chelsea star Sophie Hermann. However, Sophie announced their split this week, following weeks of speculation – but it’s something Tom is philosophical about.

“We made memories for life,” he says of their six-month relationship, citing their “different lives” for the break-up.