Kaye Adams Chooses Civil Partnership Over Marriage for Practical Reasons
Kaye Adams, a familiar face on the popular daytime talk show Loose Women, has revealed she recently entered into a civil partnership with her long-time partner, Ian Campbell. The 63-year-old television presenter and her partner, a tennis coach, have been together since the mid-1990s and are parents to two daughters, Charley and Bonnie. While many couples opt for marriage, Adams explained her decision was driven by pragmatic considerations rather than romantic tradition.
Adams shared on the Suddenly Single podcast that the couple officially entered into a civil partnership last year. The catalyst for this decision, she explained, stemmed from a conversation with another couple they met on holiday. Initially, Adams was hesitant about formalising their relationship, particularly if it were perceived as being for purely financial benefit.
“I could see in her face that she was really sad, that she didn’t want to be married for ‘tax purposes’ whereas he was kind of quite cocky,” Adams recounted, reflecting on the holiday encounter. “I said to Ian after that night, ‘If we ever get married, it is not going to be for tax reasons’.”
Financial Advice Sparks Practical Decision
Despite her initial reservations about marrying for financial reasons, a conversation with their financial advisor proved to be a turning point. The advisor highlighted the potential financial implications for their children if they remained unmarried.
“Last year our financial advisor said, ‘You’re absolutely mental, you either get married or have a civil partnership because it’ll impact on your children’,” Adams explained. This advice prompted a shift in her perspective. “I said, well I don’t want to get married for tax purposes, but I’ll get a civil partnership.”
The ceremony itself was a low-key affair, attended only by Adams’ older sister and her husband. The couple had dinner plans with a group of friends later that evening, unaware that their friends would be celebrating their civil partnership.
“It was over and done in however long it took… We had dinner booked with a bunch of friends that night, not at all connected with this, I hadn’t even mentioned it to anyone, but one of them was my close friend and she got the restaurant to print the date on all of our menus,” Adams recalled. “So when we walked in and we were late because we are always late, they all had a glass of champagne so it was actually really nice.”
A Different Kind of Dream
Adams went on to elaborate on her personal views regarding marriage and romantic traditions. She admitted that she never harboured the childhood dream of a wedding day, a stark contrast to many women.
“I honestly don’t know why we didn’t get married. I wasn’t pushing for it. A lot of women say when they were young girls they dreamt of their wedding day, they dreamt of their dress, it was something they really saw as a big thing in their life. I just didn’t,” she stated. “I never had that dream.”
Her partner, Ian Campbell, is described as a free spirit, a “beatnik” and a tennis coach who doesn’t place much importance on ceremony or material possessions. Adams characterised him as a “bit Peter Pan.” This shared ethos of not being driven by traditional expectations meant that neither of them felt the pressure to formalise their union through marriage, and thus, it never became a priority.
Loose Women broadcasts on weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV.
