MARVIN HUMES
on the joys of new parenthood with wife ROCHELLE
H aving a baby in lockdown has been “far from easy”, JLS band member Marvin Humes tells hello! when we catch up for an exclusive chat. But with plenty to look forward to this summer – including staycations and hosting dinner parties while he and wife Rochelle wait for foreign travel to open up – he’s hoping that eight-monthold Blake will get the chance to get out and about more and “adapt” to the changes.
“Before, he was really clingy to us because he just wasn’t seeing many people,” says the star of his lockdown baby, a little brother to Alaia-Mai, eight, and Valentina, four.
No doubt family time has involved watching the Uefa European Championship, with Marvin hoping his boy will share his love of football.
“[ Blake’s] got lots of Chelsea kits, because, you know, typical dad who’s into football,” he says. “It’s been amazing with Blake being added to the family set-up.”
Having just celebrated his first Father’s Day as a dad of three, he tells us that what means the most is Blake’s first word being “Dada”. “Which Rochelle’s not too happy about,” he laughs.
OUTNUMBERED
Marvin admits going from two to three children has been “quite daunting”, but Blake has slotted perfectly into their busy family life.
“He’s definitely getting his own little character. He’s sitting up now and he’s eating really well, sleeping great. It’s been a while since we’ve been back in the nappy- and- bottles- andsterilising stage, but that comes back to you really quickly, and
he’s just fit into our already sort of hectic household and brought another lovely element, where the girls think that they’re his mum. They’re just besotted with him and idolise him.”
And it’s clear there is a lot of love to go around. “We’re really lucky we’ve got a great family unit and we’re really lucky that we’ve got each other,” adds Marvin of his wife and The Hit List co-presenter. The couple, whose 2012 wedding was covered exclusively by hello!, will celebrate their ninth wedding anniversary next month.
‘Blake’s just fifit into our already hectic household. The girls think that they’re his mum’
FASHION COLLAB
Marvin even gets fashion tips from the former Saturdays singer. Of his latest edit for Next, he says: “I always ask for her input and if something looks good.”
The 36- year- old released his fifth collection for the retailer last month and says: “It’s just been really seamless – no pun intended,” adding that this latest range is made up of ten looks and packed full of summer-ready pieces that “really suit my style”.
His style has certainly evolved. Before finding fame on The X Factor in 2008 – and before Marvin started dating Rochelle – JLS favoured “deep Vs [ vests]” and hoodies, with Marvin describing his hairstyle as a “side wedge”. “I think it was [ The X Factor judge] Louis Walsh that told me to cut it, and when Louis Walsh is giving you hair advice, you must be doing something wrong,” he laughs.
JLS – Marvin, JB Gill, Aston Merrygold and Oritsé Williams – are back together after an eightyear hiatus with a twice-postponed comeback tour going ahead (they hope) this October. They’ve been recording brand-new music – all of which needs the Humes family seal of approval. Rochelle is “the first person I’ll go to with anything, especially music”, he says.
“It’s been really exciting and great to play around with new sounds. We’re putting the finishing touches to the album,” which he adds is due to be released ahead of the reunion tour.
With his hands full with a newborn, new music and a new fashion collection, Marvin says one thing is for sure: JLS’s fashion choices “will be a lot different to what they were when we were dressed as Power Rangers”.