Vogue Williams reveals two of her kids are Protestant and one is ...
“My mother-in-law, she organised the first two christenings and I organised the last one.”
Vogue Williams revealed her children are different religions during a discussion on identity on the Late Late Show.
The influencer and podcasterr joined James Nesbitt, Ciara Mageean and Baz Ashmawy as guests alongside host Paddy Kielty on Friday night’s episode.
As the discussion turned to identity, Mageean and Nesbitt spoke about being from Northern Ireland and religion.
That prompted 37-year-old Williams, who is married to Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, to jump in with a surprising comment about her children, Theodore (five) Gigi (three) and one-year-old Otto.
“Two of my kids are Protestant and one is Catholic, which I actually didn’t know,” she revealed, drawing bemused laughter from the audience.
“My mother-in-law, she organised the first two christenings and I organised the last one.
“So, we’ve got a very mixed household.
“I only found out when we were in the church for the last one and the priest held the baby up and said, ‘Welcome to the Catholic church’.
“Spenny [her husband] looked at me, like, ‘What?’"
Nesbitt also discussed his experience after moving to England earlier in his career.
“I’m just delighted that people are owning their own identity now, not fighting each other or killing each other over it,” he said.
“Certainly when I first went to drama school a long, long time ago, I went as a Protestant but I think the first day I arrived there in London, I was kind of seen as someone who was naturally pro-republican and pro-the struggle.
“Not for anything I said or did but because I think I was being considered Irish for maybe the first time.
Chat: Kielty with Ciara Mageean, James Nesbitt, Vogue Williams and Baz Ashmawy. Photo: Michelle Daly/RTE
“I think for Protestants at that time it was quite odd to, I suppose, go there and be considered Irish, particularly by the English who didn’t really distinguish really I think between the north and south.”
The ex-Cold Feet and Bloodlands star feels society has reached a point where mature discussions can now be had.
Nesbitt (58) added: “I would consider myself a Protestant, an Irishman from the north of Ireland who does not refute nor shy away from my Protestant culture, but it doesn’t define me, you know? And nor do I deny my Catholic friends their culture.
“But honestly, I do think, as great as it is that we can have our identity and a sense of it, I think for way too long where we came from people focused on the differences that kept us apart rather than exploring the common ground and the views and the issues and the problems that we share.
Discussion: Patrick Kielty chats identity with James Nesbitt. Photo: Michelle Daly/RTE
“I just think now that there is possibly an appetite to really celebrate the different identities here on the island.”
Also appearing on the show was Portaferry athlete Mageean.
The 31-year-old, who smashed Sonia O'Sullivan's longstanding Irish mile record earlier this year, represented Ireland at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, and has also medalled for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games.
Mageean said: “The decision between running for GB and Ireland - being from Northern Ireland, we have that option - it was hands down, it was always going to be Ireland for me.
“The dream of running with the Irish vest on my back, seeing the Tricolour rise and Amhran na bhFiann ring around the stadium is everything that I dream of.
“But I’m also extremely proud to go out and represent Northern Ireland in the Commonwealths.
“It’s where I’m born and we are a special bunch of people up there - a very special identity.
“It’s a nation that’s been through an awful lot but, honestly, (we are) the best people in the world.
“If you’re looking a good night out, there’s no better place than Belfast.”
