Penny Lancaster was left in floods of tears as she opened up about her extraordinary love story with husband Rod Stewart in a deeply emotional BBC festive special.
The 54-year-old model and TV presenter appeared on the first episode of series two of Anita Rani’s My Life At Christmas, where she revisited the moment she first crossed paths with the legendary rocker — and how fate quietly pulled them together.
The couple originally met back in 1999, when Penny was studying at Barking College and Rod, now 80, was performing on stage. But despite exchanging numbers that night, it wouldn’t be until nine months later that Rod finally made his move.
Looking back through tears, Penny revealed that following their initial meeting, she heard nothing and genuinely believed their paths would never cross again.
“I remember developing the photos I’d taken of Rod at his show and thinking, ‘Well, that was a lovely memory – and that was that,’” she said emotionally.
Unbeknown to her, there was a silent protector behind the scenes.
Rod later explained that his band leader, Carmine Appice, deliberately held onto Penny’s number — believing the singer wasn’t emotionally ready after just coming out of his divorce from second wife Rachel Hunter.
“He was an absolute gentleman,” Rod admitted. “He didn’t think I was in the right place. I was a bit lost after my divorce and he said, ‘I’ll give you her number when I think you’re ready.’”
Joking through emotion, Rod added: “I should’ve fired him… but I couldn’t!”
When the moment finally came, Rod reached out — and from there, everything changed.
The couple went on to welcome their first son, Alastair, in 2005, married in 2007, and later welcomed their second son, Aiden, in 2011.
Throughout the BBC interview, Penny repeatedly struggled to hold back tears — especially when describing what it was like stepping into Rod’s large blended family.
Before Penny, Rod was already a father to six children from previous relationships, ranging across different ages and households. Penny admitted entering that dynamic was one of the most delicate chapters of her life.
“I tiptoed very lightly,” she said through sobs. “There were so many personalities, and children of all different ages, from different mothers. It was a world I’d never been part of before.”
Trying to steady her voice, she continued:
“I stayed in the background but remained present, and slowly… very slowly… we got to a place I never thought we would reach.”
Rod, visibly emotional himself, added quietly:
“The kids absolutely adore her now. They come to her for advice.”
Another moment reduced Penny to tears as she recalled the spiritual turning point of their marriage — when the couple met Pope Francis in 2018 after winning a charity bid.
Describing it as a life-changing moment, Penny said the Pope placed their hands together and laid his hand over theirs in blessing.
“It felt like everything had been sealed,” she said. “All the private wishes, prayers, hopes we had for each other… it felt like destiny.”
Then came the moment that left viewers stunned.
At the very end of the interview, Rod Stewart himself finally broke down. His voice cracked as he revealed the quiet rule that has kept their marriage strong for 25 years.
“We don’t go to bed angry,” he said.
“We don’t argue after a glass of wine. And if we do argue, it’s over quickly.”
Then, choking back tears, he added:
“I teach my kids that real men say sorry. That’s what real men do.”
“There’s an honesty between us that I treasure,” Rod said softly.
“And I hope it lasts forever.”
