CONTINUING HIS CAMPAIGN AROUND MENTAL HEALTH RIO FERDINAND ON HELPING CHILDREN SHOW THEIR EMOTIONS AND WHY HE AND WIFE KATE ARE THE PERFECT MATCH

When he was a professional footballer, Rio Ferdinand was used to a dressing-room culture full of bravado and banter, where showing emotion was seen as a sign of weakness.

- TRACY SCHAVERIEN

But now the father of five, broadcaster and mental-health campaigner has learnt to be more open about his feelings, something he encourages in his children.

“Communicating with our kids is so important and we’re all so busy that sometimes, as parents, we lose sight of that,” he tells Hello! in this exclusive interview.

“It’s just saying that it’s okay to cry sometimes, it’s okay to feel emotions, and relaying to my children that I feel vulnerable and sad sometimes.

“It’s important that people understand that there’s going to be a point in your life when things aren’t going to plan and you might feel vulnerable, when you don’t feel as strong as you normally do. But that’s okay and that is normal.”

Rio, 45, is teaming up with McDonald’s as the restaurant chain marks this week’s Mental Health Awareness Week by dropping the smile from millions of Happy Meal boxes across the country to show youngsters that it’s fine not to be happy all of the time.