BBC star Kate Humble has revealed why she decided against having children with husband Ludo Graham.
Kate rose to fame presenting a series of specialist wildlife shows on the broadcaster. She married director Ludo in 1992, having been family friends since they were younger.
Throughout her career however, Kate has attracted criticism for showing a lack of interest in having children. She has often spoken about realising as a teenager that she “lacked the maternal gene”.
Former Springwatch presenter Kate told Woman’s Weekly magazine one of the reasons why she opted not to have children. She explained: “I’d probably have been a terrible parent, but I guess I’m doing my bit for kids in my way.”
She added: “Not everyone is set up to be a parent or wants to be a parent, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t and don’t want to have a fundamental effect on children.”
When not on screen, Kate runs the Humble by Nature livestock farm in Monmouthshire, Wales. She recalls a moment recently where a mum-of-two said she fled to the rural farmstead after escaping a violent home.
She remarked: “We’re still in touch, and they have been back.”
Kate. 55, has previously said a number of women have shown her support after she admitted to not wanting children. Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, she explained: “I knew very early on that I didn’t want children, so I thought, I’m just going to say it.
“I don’t think it’s anybody’s business but I think it’s just easier if I just come out and say, ‘I don’t want them, I’ve never wanted them’. I know it sounds dreadful but that’s just how I feel.
“But it was amazing, the reaction, [there were] so many women via social media and in the papers saying ‘thanks for voicing what we feel’, because so many people don’t want kids.”
Kate says she was “lucky” her husband felt the same way about having children. Since she first appeared on screens in the 1990s, Kate has become synonymous with the programme Animal Park – presenting alongside Ben Fogle.
She will be returning to the popular programme for a Christmas special from Longleat in Wiltshire this year.
