Kate Ferdinand admits documentary helped ‘save’ relationship with Rio after feeling ‘isolated and alone’

KATE Ferdinand has admitted her documentary helped "save" her relationship with Rio after she was left "in a state" and feeling "isolated and alone".

The step-mum of Rio's three children opened up about the struggles she was facing behind the scenes as they filmed the BBC show.

Rio and Kate: Becoming a Stepfamily followed Kate's journey becoming part of the family after the death of Rio's wife Rebecca.

Speaking on Ferne Cotton's Happy Place podcast, Kate revealed the couple desperately needed help to get their relationship back on track.

"I felt super vulnerable, I was in quite a state," Kate said.

"When we were filming I struggled with it so much. I was all over the place, but at the same time we needed help.

"We were stuck in a place where if we don't ask for help then where's our relationship going to be then?

"The children can't go through seeing another woman leave. We had to.

"Going through that process has been unbelievable. It's been tough but we've learnt a lot."

Kate revealed she cried every day for a year after moving in with Rio as she struggled to be the perfect wife and step-mum to Lorenz, Tate and Tia.
"I felt really isolated and alone," said Kate.

"I had no one to relate to. What do you do when the children are crying? No one knows what to say."

Rebecca lost her life to breast cancer in May 2015 when she was just 34 years old.

Before her death, Rebecca had tried to talk to her husband about life after she was gone - but struggling to cope with her illness, he dismissed the conversation.

Instead, she left a message with her best friend Lisa, giving Rio her blessing to love again as she didn't want him to be “alone and miserable”.

He met former Towie star Kate Ferdinand in October 2016 after Rebecca's death and she has helped the family get through their grief.

• Rio and Kate: Becoming a Stepfamily is available on BBCiPlayer.