Judi Love once "cried" over the cost of school uniforms for her children.
Judi Love once worried herself to tears over the cost of school uniforms for her children
The 42-year-old TV star - who worked in social care before launching a career in stand-up comedy and eventually found wider fame when she became a regular panelist on 'Loose Women' in 2020 - has a 12-year-old son and a 17-year-old daughter from a previous relationship and can resonate with struggling parents trying to deal with the cost of living crisis.
She said: "I remember crying out of worry when my daughter started secondary school because I was unsure we’d be able to afford her school uniform. I know how parents are feeling about the current cost of living increase not allowing them to clothe or feed their children properly."
The former 'Strictly Come Dancing' contestant went on to reassure parents that financial difficulties are "nothing to be ashamed about" and encouraged fans to donate to charities if they can and urged parents to "reach out" for help if they need it.
Writing in her OK! Magazine column, she added: "It’s tragic, but it’s also nothing to be ashamed about. I remember passing down my daughter’s old shirts to my son when he started school. Needs must. I would encourage anybody who can – no matter how little it may be – to donate to charities that pledge to provide food and school supplies to children of families struggling financially, such as The Trussell Trust and Brixton Soup Kitchen. Parents, please don’t feel ashamed to reach out."
The 'Celebrity Gogglebox' star - who lost her mother back in 2009 following a long battle with dementia - previously explained that it was her mum's final moments that gave her the "push" to try out a career in comedy.
She said: "My mum started to pass away when I was pregnant. She had dementia and she stopped talking and I think that was one of the hardest things.
"I was doing an imitation of my Aunty Blossom with these two dogs. We called it 'travelling' and my mum was at the stage where she was travelling so her eyes were closed and I was doing all this and she was taking quite deep breaths. Hearing is the last thing to go, I was big belly pregnant at the time and she laughed! And I did it again and she laughed! I thought 'If I can do that, I can try to do comedy.' That was the push."