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Rio and Kate: Becoming a Stepfamily

This intimate documentary follows the Ferdinands as Rio鈥檚 fianc茅e Kate Wright integrates into the family and becomes a step mum to his three children.

This intimate and powerful documentary follows the Ferdinand family as Rio鈥檚 fianc茅e Kate Wright integrates into the family and becomes a stepmum to Rio鈥檚 three children, Lorenz, Tate and Tia. This is the next stage in the family鈥檚 journey following the Bafta- award winning and critically acclaimed 2017 documentary, 鈥楻io Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad鈥�.

Two years after Rebecca鈥檚 passing, Rio also lost his mum, Janet, to cancer. So in the months leading up to their wedding, this deeply personal film will look at the emotionally complicated dilemmas this newly formed family unit face following the family鈥檚 double bereavement.

For 27 year old Kate, taking on not only the role as Rio鈥檚 new partner, but also of 鈥榤um鈥� to three grieving children, and with the memory of Rebecca and Janet still very much present, a unique set of emotionally complicated challenges emerge.

Stepfamilies are now the fastest growing family type in the UK. It's estimated that 1 in 3 of all families are now blended families.

In search of answers, Kate and Rio meet other step-parents willing to share their experiences at one of the support groups on offer, Happy Steps, led by Professor Lisa Doodson, a chartered psychologist specialising in stepfamily dynamics.

As Rio and Kate open up about their own experiences, they learn they鈥檙e not alone and that stepfamilies often have to overcome challenges when developing their new family units which can affect their mental wellbeing, with increased stress and anxiety, particularly for stepmums.

But whilst Rio and Kate start to explore some of their own questions around step-parenting, they still aren鈥檛 sure how the three children are coping with the loss of both grandmother Janet and their mum Rebecca.

On visiting a specialist child bereavement charity, Rio and Kate hear from other children who have lost a parent and now have a new step-parent in their lives. Listening to the powerful advice from these young people, Rio realises that he鈥檚 working too hard, and that Kate probably spends more time with the kids than he does.

Armed with new knowledge from these support groups, Kate and Rio make positive changes to their lives, before taking Tate, Tia and Lorenz to Child Bereavement UK so they can also benefit from hearing from other young people who have lost a parent.

58 minutes

Last on

Wed 10 Feb 2021 01:30

Music Played

  • Dj Tisora

    Future

  • Far East Movement

    Rocketeer (Feat. Ryan Tedder)

Credits

Role Contributor
Director Matt Smith
Producer Molly Sayers
Production Manager Halima Ottway
Executive Producer Jonathan Smith
Editor Martin Thompson
Production Company October Films Ltd
Production Company Circle Circle Films

Broadcasts