TV

Couple with 40-year age gap divide This Morning viewers

He's 44, she's 83

When they got married in 2005, Simon and Edna Martin shocked the nation.

On the surface, the West Country couple from Weston-Super-Mare were like any other happily married pair.

But there was one crucial difference: there is a 40-year age gap between them.

Simon and Edna are celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary (Credit: ITV)

Read more: Couple with 53-year age gap defend their relationship after meeting at son’s funeral

Now celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary, Edna, now 83, and 44-year-old Simon appeared on This Morning today (Monday Jun 17).

Asked by host Holly Willoughby whether it was love at first sight when they met in 2003, Edna replied: “It was indeed love at first sight, and it still… well, it’s better.”

They first met at Weston Odeon when they were both part of the West of England Theatre Organ Society, and have hit the headlines ever since.

And they explained to Holly and Phil that they keep the spark alive with public displays of affection, including pinching each other’s bum in the supermarket and holding hands as they fall asleep together.

Phil and Holly were tickled by Edna’s stories (Credit: ITV)

Read more: Former Coronation Street star Chris Quinten defends 40 year age gap with fiancé

As Edna told Phil and Holly that she intended to paint a naked picture of Simon, viewers took to Twitter to voice their opinions.

“I don’t care if you’re male or female but a 40-year age gap between you and your other half is way to much,” one said.

Another wrote: “I’m not trying to be mean but this is off-putting. Like no!!! You don’t want to look like you’re married to your grandmother or grandpa.”

Another said: “Lovely couple. Lovely story. But NO we don’t want to know about their sex lives, thanks.”

Simon and Edna said they couln’t live without each other (Credit: ITV)

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But it wasn’t all shock and horror, as some viewers were delighted to see them so happy together.

“If they are happy then it’s good for them,” one commenter said.

Another said: “The 40 year age gap couple on This Morning are wonderful – true love and affection for each other. How anyone could say it’s wrong….they must be jealous!”

A third added: “I’m gonna say leave them alone if they love each other then good luck to them.”

At the end of the interview, Edna said: “He is my head, he is my heart, and I adore him.”

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