One Born Every Minute

Three sets of parents demonstrate that family bonds can be forged in wildly different circumstances. Vicki (32) and Janet (39) have been together for eleven years and tied the knot of civil partnership in 2007. Vicki was 21 when she left her boyfriend for a fling with Janet and they’ve been together ever since. Vicki’s always wanted children and they used IVF with Vicki’s eggs and donor sperm. At first Vicki’s mum found it difficult accepting her daughter was gay but now seems very comfortable with the idea and is on hand at the birth to help. That’s just as well as Vicki can be a handful at the best of times by her own admission. She doesn’t cope well with pain and requires an assortment of cold flannels, water sprays and fans to keep her from feeling too hot during labour. The most astonishing thing about Ines Newell (30) and Paul (60) is their age difference - he’s 30 years older than her. Their shared religious belief forms part of the bond that ties them together. They’ve now been together for seven years and this is their third child. Sheree (20) and Danny (19) have been together for 18 months. She got pregnant accidentally and he has given up the chance of going to college to study sport science and instead has taken a full-time job to pay for the baby’s upbringing.