Jonathan Ross, a fan favourite of British telly since the ’80s, isn’t just flying solo as the only star in his clan.
Launching into our living rooms with The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross on Channel 4 in 1987, he’s become a mainstay on the screen, helming his own chat show among various other gigs. Now, he’s gearing up to thrill viewers in the inaugural celeb edition of The Traitors.
His ventures across television, radio and advertising circles have padded his wallet considerably, with his net worth rumoured to be around £30 million.
Away from the limelight, Jonathan relishes a serene domestic life with his wife, Jane Goldman—a well-known screenwriter—since tying the knot in 1988, during a low-key romance when she was a fresh-faced 18 year old.
The couple, who now boast three offspring—Betty Kitten, 33, Harvey Kirby, 31, and Honey Kinney, 28—first connected when Jonathan was 26 and Jane 16-year-old showbiz journalist, reports the Mirror.
Even high-profile couples like Jonathan and Jane aren’t immune to ups and downs, and they’ve braved their fair share, facing tribulations that rocked their union to its core.
Marriage split
In 1999, marital became turbulent after Jane had been grappling with mental health struggles, with a breakdown leading to her seeking care and support at the Priory Clinic. This prompted a brief separation for the duo.
Their combined announcement at the time stated: “Jane, who suffers from depression, recently had a breakdown for which she checked into the Priory Clinic for treatment.
“As a result of this very stressful period a great deal of strain has been put on the marriage. Jane and Jonathan’s main concern at the moment is the happiness and security of their children.”
Rarely-seen son
Harvey, the middle child, tends to keep a low profile, avoiding the limelight as much as possible. However, he recently made a rare public appearance alongside his father and sister Honey on Celebrity Gogglebox.
Despite Harvey’s preference for privacy, his father and sister inadvertently revealed that he was soon to be married.
On an episode of the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, where Honey also guest-starred with her famous father, conversation turned towards Harvey.
Jonathan couldn’t help but tease his son about his hair care routine, joking: “Harvey has got the longest hair in the family, and largely unwashed. He doesn’t wash it often because he’s part of that gang who think you shouldn’t use soaps.”
Honey then let slip some celebratory news, revealing: “He did just get engaged!” with Jonathan hinting at future family plans saying: “They’re thinking of starting a family next year.”
Betty’s health struggles
Meanwhile, eldest daughter Betty has been bravely battling serious health issues, having been diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2021.
Jane and Jonathan’s eldest daughter has been coping with chronic fatigue syndrome and postural tachycardia syndrome, which necessitates her use of an electric wheelchair for getting around due to dizziness caused by the heart rate spike when standing.
Expressing his unwavering support, Jonathan told the Express: “It’s been a tough couple of years for her [Betty] in particular, but she is getting slowly better.”
TV star daughter
Prominent in her own right, their younger daughter Honey champions body positivity as a model and co-hosts the podcast Reel Talk with her dad, discussing top flicks and TV binges. Despite her public persona, Honey recently revealed her agitation with the family’s scrutiny on the airwaves.
Having battled with self-image issues, Honey shared her views candidly on Loose Women, urging others not to impose diets on children and warning about their damaging effects: “They saw me, a teenage girl, coming home saying, ‘I hate my body’, They tried to give me solutions to a problem I brought to them, which was to lose weight.”
She emphasised: “They presented me with diets and diets, as we know, don’t work and are absolutely toxic. My advice to parents is keep that as far away from your children as possible, if you want them to have a good relationship with food and their bodies growing up do not shame them.”
Famous family members
In addition to his many pets and children, Jonathan’s brother Paul also made a name for himself as a TV presenter on Channel 4’s popular breakfast show the Big Breakfast, among other television appearances.
Another prominent member of the family includes his late mother Martha, who became a familiar face on EastEnders.
Jonathan Ross is currently available to stream on ITVX
