Roxanne Hoyle, one half of internet sensation LadBaby, talks about her marriage to Mark, parenting, the dark side of fame – and a surreal celebrity moment involving Elton John
She’s the matriarch of Britain’s most famous online family, amassing over a million followers, and a whopping five Christmas number ones. She’s a comedy duo with her husband Mark, but Roxanne Hoyle – better known as LadBaby Mum – has faced her fair share of public scrutiny, from trolling to recent headlines about Mark’s alleged fidelity (Roxanne insists that a man in a viral TikTok clip who seems to grope a woman on a night out was not her husband).
Here, Roxanne opens up exclusively to OK! about parenting sons Phoenix, nine, and Kobe, seven, and her relationship with Mark – from those early days when they survived on ‘£20 a week’ to being some of the most successful social media stars in history.
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Roxanne, you just celebrated your 10-year wedding anniversary – congrats!
Thank you! We’ve been together longer than that, but yeah – 10 years married! For us, we’re all about divide and conquer. We support each other, we have date nights, we’re with the kids all the time and we work together – people always ask how we manage it! But, honestly, we’re best mates. We’ve been through so much and come out stronger. I never thought I’d get married, let alone to someone I love so much and with two lovely boys. I’m really grateful.
What was life for you two like before all this success?
Well, we met over cocktails in London and fell in love – cheesy, but true. When we got pregnant with our first, Mark worked a couple of jobs and I stayed home. We had literally £20 a week to live on – it was joyful, but it was so hard. That’s why we’ll never forget where we came from. That’s why we give back, support food banks and do what we do now.
What is it about you and Mark that just works?
We’re like two big kids together. We never want to grow up and not have fun. After what we’ve been through, we just say, ‘Why not?’ If you get the chance, grab it.
How do you protect your relationship, behind closed doors?
We always talk, every day. We’re close with our boys, too, they can come to us with anything. I think we’ve stayed the same people we were when we met 15 years ago. The world ’s changed around us, but we haven’t.
You’re very open about parenting – what’s the hardest part?
The fatigue – that phase when the boys were teething or not sleeping – I’d just be so tired. You can feel like you’re losing yourself. But I’d always remind myself: it’s a bad day, that’s all.
Would you have more kids?
I’m really blessed with my two. People always say, ‘Have a girl!’ but I’ve got sisters and I’m happy. I feel lucky.
You’ve said your story’s one of ‘never giving up’. Was writing your book, Our LadBaby Journey, emotional?
Oh, yes. Mark and I are both dyslexic, so we talked it through together to write it. It was like reliving everything – the deepest, darkest moments, remembering that time, living in one room with a kettle and a bed, and then the joy of eloping for our wedding, having the kids, the Christmas songs, helping the food banks. On reflection, it was great, because we lived through that. Wow. All that before 40! It’s absolutely insane.
What were those dark moments you relived?
Being trolled online – even when we were doing something nice, like a charity song with Ed Sheeran and Elton John. There was no reason for it, but people can be cruel. Then just the exhaustion of parenting, those early days. There were times I felt like, ‘I can’t do this’. But then you meet a nurse or someone who says, ‘Thank you, your videos helped’, and that just lifts you.
You’ve faced harsh some comments online about your relationship, your looks – how do you deal with those?
I ignore them. If anything, they light a fire in me to do more. I don’t have time to waste on negativity. I can’t listen. I’m just focused on the children and positivity and creating greatness that can go on to do even better things. That’s what I do, that’s who I am.
You’re looking amazing right now – has anything changed?
I turned 40 last year – then everything changes! The kids are in school now, so I’ve got more time for me. I wanted to feel stronger, have more energy. I’ve changed a bit, but I’m still me. I’m embracing the age, but I also wanted more energy to keep up with my boys. I want to see them grow older, and be there for them – and able to outrun them!
What’s something people get wrong about you?
That I’ve changed. But I’m still the same person. Just because I look different doesn’t mean I’ve changed inside. I’m still just Rox.
You’ve had five Christmas number ones – more than The Beatles! What’s been a surreal celeb moment?
Elton John singing back the lyrics I wrote on my sofa while drinking tea – that was cool! I even bought him silly Christmas glasses from Poundland for the video, and he wore them!
Any music legends you’d love to collaborate with next?
Mariah Carey would be hilarious. And Adele, singing about sausage rolls! Can you imagine?
Would you do a reality show?
I love a challenge. People are always asking when I’ll go on Strictly because I’m always dancing – I’d love to beat Mark at dancing. I’d give it a go, as long as it’s something where I could come out with a new skill.
You recently visited Downing Street for the Formula for Change campaign, to make sure families have access to affordable baby formula. Why was that important to you?
People should be able to afford to feed a baby – motherhood’s hard enough as it is. We’ve always tried to use our platform for good, and to see over 100,000 people sign that petition blew us away. Our followers made a huge difference. I just pray it goes on to change the world.
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