Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster have been together for more than two decades and share two children together, but it seems that their relationship was not always smooth sailing
Katy Hallam and Lucretia Munro
19:02, 07 Dec 2025
Penny Lancaster breaks down over Rod Stewart reveal(Image: BBC)
Penny Lancaster was moved to tears upon discovering a secret about how one of Rod Stewart’s mates attempted to stop them from dating – for a heartfelt reason.
The rock legend revealed to his wife that a close pal had kept her phone number from him until he believed Rod was ‘completely recovered’ following his acrimonious divorce from model Rachel Hunter.
Rod has previously stated that his second wife Rachel’s choice to leave him had caused him physical anguish and he finally understood what it meant to suffer a broken heart.
Rod and Penny, who have been an item for over two decades and share two children together, initially crossed paths when Penny, 54, was studying at Barking College whilst he was performing.
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Following Rod’s separation from Rachel, the singer, 80, encountered Penny but his close mate at the time, Carmine Appice, believed Rod wasn’t emotionally prepared to start dating again – so he chose not to hand over her number.
This revelation emerged during the opening episode of Anita Rani’s My Life At Christmas for the BBC.
Recounting the tale with Penny sitting alongside him, Rod explained to Anita: “He was an absolute gentleman, he was band leader and bass player and he kept her telephone away from me.”, reports the Mirror.
He added: “He didn’t think I was in the right position because I had just got a divorce and didn’t know if I was coming or going and he said I will give it to you when I think you are ready.”
He cheekily remarked: “I should have fired him but I couldn’t!”
It was at this moment in the footage that Penny began to get tearful as she revealed: “Carmine had kept that telephone number away from him. He said ‘You are going to go a bit crazy over the summer and let your hair down and Penny seems like a nice girl.'”.
Convinced she wouldn’t encounter the music icon again, she went on: “I really thought that was the last I would see of Rod. I remember processing those photos I took of Rod [at his concert] and thinking, ‘what a lovely memory’ and that was that.”
However, Rod eventually took matters into his own hands and reached out to Penny, and their romance has flourished ever since. The pair welcomed their first son together in 2005.
Two years later, they exchanged vows in an extravagant ceremony before their second son arrived in 2011. Yet it appears they had to tread carefully around Rod’s other offspring from previous marriages and relationships.
Penny openly shared what it was like stepping into an established blended family. She revealed: “I tiptoed very lightly. Because there were lots of personalities, and more important there were children ranging from all ages.
“From Liam who was five when we first met through to teenagers to Kimberly who was just about to turn 21 so it was delicate and they were children from different mothers.”
She continued: “It was a scenario I had never faced before and I thought I need to stay in the background but be present and there if they want to approach me. I just wanted to take my time and it took a long time.2
Attempting to hold back her sobs she continued, “But we got there and we have got to a place that I never thought I would get to with them.”
Rod then interjected: “I must admit the kids adore her now, they look for her for advice.”
Rachel Hunter was Rod’s second wife. The model was just 21-years-old when she encountered the Maggie May singer and despite their 24-year age gap, they wed and had two children – Renee and Liam.
The couple remained married until 1999 when Rachel departed, claiming she’d “lost her identity.”
She subsequently confessed: “I’ll take to the grave the pain I caused Rod. I hurt the one person I loved and cared about.”
Rod struggled with the separation, revealing: “I took to lying on the sofa in the day, with a blanket over me and a hot water bottle against my chest. I knew then why they call it heartbroken. You can feel it in your heart.”
Penny’s emotions didn’t subside as the conversation quickly shifted to their 2018 papal audience. They had secured the opportunity to meet Pope Francis through a charity auction.
Penny remarked: “As the Pope Francis came along the eye contact that we got was very powerful.”
He spent a considerable amount of time with us, placing both our hands on top of each other and his hand on top of ours. ” When asked by Anita what that moment meant to her, Penny responded: “It sort of cemented all the wishes that Rod and I had for one another.”
She further added: “All those sort of prayers that we had had quietly. He gave us two rosary beads too and he blessed us as well and it made us feel like… it was all our destiny.”
However, it wasn’t just Penny who was moved during the interview, as Rod also became emotional when questioned about the secret to their 25-year relationship.
With tears in his eyes, he said: “I think the age difference, there are downsides to it, but there is a maturity I may have taught Penny and there is an honesty she has taught me.
“We do not argue before we go to bed and we do not argue after a glass of wine and if we do have arguments it is over real quick.”
He went on to say: “I try to teach my kids, all of them, that real men say sorry, that’s what they do. There is a wonderful honestly between us and long may it last.”
