'We would like to expand our family'

Jake Quickenden talks about his plans for Father's Day, reflecting on his grief and wanting one more child

- LISA BLAKE

He became a dad to son Leo two years ago and former X Factor star Jake Quickenden admits his life has changed for the better since welcoming his first child.

“As I talk to you, I can see a half drunk bottle of milk, toys strewn everywhere, a half-made puzzle and a foam baseball bat lying under the sofa, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Jake tells us. “Life is about growth. I’m not in that point of life where I want to be out partying, that’s not me any more – my priorities have shifted. Time with the family is the most precious thing. I know that, having lost my dad and brother.”

Jake, 34, has been praised by fans over the years for talking openly about the double heartbreak he endured, having lost his dad to bone cancer in 2008 and then his younger brother Oliver to the same disease in 2012, aged just 19.

In February 2021, Jake welcomed his son Leo with long-term partner Sophie Church, who he married in September last year.

Here, Jake opens up on how Father’s Day has evolved for him over the years, how he navigates being a stepdad to Sophie’s son Freddie, nine, and why he’d like to train to be a counsellor…

Hi Jake. What does Father’s Day mean to you?

When I was young, Father’s Day was never a huge thing. I used to spend it with my dad and the whole family. When I lost my dad, it became a day where me and my brother would go for a pint and talk about my dad. Now it’s more about being with Leo. But I still have a bit of time to reflect on my dad not being here and think about things we used to do.

Do you usually do anything special on the day?