What time is Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad on BBC1 tonight, how long ago did his wife Rebecca Ellison die and what’s the documentary about?
WIDOWER Rio Ferdinand is set to open up about the death of his wife and soul mate Rebecca Ellison in a BBC documentary.
The ex-Manchester United and England star’s partner died from breast cancer in 2015 at the age of 34, leaving him a single dad to their three children: Lorenz, 11, Tate, 8, and Tia, 6.
A new documentary is set to lift the lid on the heartache and struggle the football star has gone through since her tragic passing and here's everything we know about the show so far...
When is Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad on BBC1 and what is it about?
The hour-long documentary will air on BBC One tonight at 9pm.
It will then be available on iPlayer, the channel's catch-up service.
The 38-year-old will open up about his life as a widower in the hour-long BBC documentary.
It will explore how bereaved parents manage grief and support their children – and shares how the only way they can truly support them is to rebuild their lives.
The documentary follows Ferdinand blasting the Government for cutting back on the length of time widowed parents can receive bereavement benefits.
Alison Kirkham, controller of factual commissioning and events, said: “Rio Ferdinand has courageously allowed the cameras to follow him in this revealing and immensely personal documentary exploring the complexities of grief.
"This candid film will offer BBC One audiences an intimate exploration of the ways in which men similarly bereaved cope with their loss."
When did Rebecca Ellison die?
The wife of the former England captain died after a short battle with cancer in May 2015.
Rebecca married Rio in the Caribbean in 2009, three years after the birth of their first son.
The couple first met when he was playing for West Ham United in the late 1990s.
After she passed away, he issued a heartbreaking statement that read: “My soul mate slipped away last night.
“Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
“She was a fantastic loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter.
“She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration.”
Is Rio Ferdinand dating anyone?
Recently, Rio has been linked to Towie star Kate Wright, hinting that he might be ready to find love again.
A source told The Sun: “Rio and Kate have enjoyed spending time with each other with other friends.
“His number one priority are his three kids and he will always put their welfare in front of anything else.
“But Kate is very smitten with him and therefore happy to wait and see what happens.”
However, Rio has refused to discuss the romance by declaring there is “no right time” to move on following the death of his wife.
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