Ben Leo has been flooded with messages of support after candidly revealing he has not seen his father since he was 10 years old.
The People’s Channel presenter opened up about his childhood during GB Dads, a new video series featuring Ben, Patrick Christys and Martin Daubney discussing the realities and challenges of fatherhood.
Ben explained that his father left the family home after being thrown out by his mother, leaving him without a consistent male role model during his formative years.
He said: “I haven’t seen my dad, my father, since I was 10, when my mum kicked him out.”
Ben Leo opened up about growing up without a consistent male role model
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GB NEWS
The GB News Chief US Correspondent revealed that a lodger named Mike subsequently became the closest thing he had to a father figure.
Ben recalled: “I did have a lodger, I was just telling you off air, I had a lodger called Mike who lived with us.
“He moved in actually when my dad was there, and he’d been in the house for maybe 20 years, just living in a spare room, working and so on.
“And when my dad left, he kind of became my surrogate father.”
The presenter admitted his childhood experiences shaped his desire to have children of his own
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INSTAGRAM / BEN LEO
However, Ben suffered another devastating loss when Mike died from cancer while the presenter was still a teenager.
“But then he unfortunately died of cancer, so I carried his coffin when I was 16, at his funeral,” he shared.
Reflecting on his upbringing, the broadcaster continued: “So I didn’t really have a male role model growing up.
“I guess the closest thing, maybe, was my two half-siblings; they’re half-Greek. A little bit of an age gap; they’re a bit older than me.”
When asked whether he had considered what he may have missed by growing up without his father, Ben admitted it was difficult to identify something he had never experienced.
He said: “I guess, being very stereotypical, maybe all the sort of manly stuff, going into the woods, DIY.
“Anybody will tell you I’m absolutely rubbish at DIY and any hands-on stuff. I’m trying to get better — I ordered a new toolkit.
“It’s hard to say, because I don’t know. I don’t know what I’ve missed, because I haven’t experienced it.
“Like, you don’t know dark without light, so I don’t know.”
Ben, who is a father to two young sons, then explained how the absence of a father figure had shaped his own desire to become a parent.
He added: “But not having a father growing up, or a male role model, has just made… I always wanted kids to kind of fill that gap.”
Viewers quickly rallied around the presenter following his deeply personal admission.
One supporter wrote on X: “His loss, Ben. You’ve done brilliant without a dad and seem to be an amazing daddy to your boys.”
Another declared: “You’ve done damn well without one. I’m sure your sons are extremely proud of you.”
A third reassured the broadcaster: “Oh Ben! You have wonderful sons and you are showing yourself to be a loving dad!”
Other viewers praised GB Dads for providing men with a space to speak openly about parenthood, family relationships and their emotions.
Ben Leo was moved to tears as he watched a historic rocket launch alongside his young son Jude in Florida
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GB NEWS
One person commented: “Really love the concept of this show! Will be very interested to view from the mums’ perspective!”
Another added: “I admire men being able to talk freely about their feelings. I think more men need to speak about their feelings rather than hold it in and it cause turmoil and resentment. It’s not being soft or weak, it’s strength amongst me,n and it will make you a better man than the last.”
GB Dads brings Ben together with fellow presenters Patrick and Martin for a frank conversation about their personal experiences of raising children.
The series explores the presenters’ most difficult parenting moments, their differing approaches to family life and the profound influence their own childhoods have had on the fathers they are today.
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