Brian Dowling is doing what most new parents will be familiar with, holding his breath while tiptoeing away from his sleeping two-month-old daughter Blu – who he shares with celebrity choreographer husband Arthur Gourounlian. ‘Arthur’s taken Blake for a walk too, so we are good to go,’ TV and radio host Brian says of his husband and first-born daughter, who will be two tomorrow. Divine timing is everything for parents, and Brian is more than aware of how blessed himself and Arthur are with their beautiful little girls, who were welcomed via surrogacy by his sister Aoife.
‘It’s hard to believe, but when Blake turned one, my sister Aoife actually got pregnant with Blu the following month,’ says Brian, who is now one of Ireland’s most familiar media faces, rising to fame after winning the second series of Big Brother and currently presenter of Virgin Media One’s Six O’Clock Show. ‘We didn’t dare to hope because you’re relying on so many factors – the hormones and juicy ingredients – and now here we are with a two year old and a two month old. We are very grateful and thankful.
’ Some sleep-deprived new parents may want to look away now – as Brian reveals that both their children are sleepers – and not a Gina Ford book in sight. ‘The best advice about parenting I’ve got from my sisters – and that’s to make it up as you go along. I haven’t read one parenting book,’ he shrugs.
In a world where sharenting has made many self-professed ex.