Charlotte's estranged father speaks of hopes for reunion

The estranged father of television presenter and singer Charlotte Church spoke today of his wish to be reunited with her.

Stephen Reed has not seen his celebrity daughter for 20 years following a bitter split with her mother Maria.

Reed, 44, from Llanishen, Cardiff, told the Wales on Sunday newspaper he still loved his daughter and saw a lot of himself in her daughter Ruby, whose father is Church’s boyfriend Gavin Henson, the Welsh rugby union international.

The comments were in response to an interview with Church earlier this week in which she said her real father and his family were “strangers” to her.

Mr Reed now lives with his wife of 19 years, Alison, and they have two sons; Alexander, 16, and 20-year-old Luke.

Mr Reed told the paper: “There are some people who are obviously trying to drive a wedge between us and keep us separated. People have told her things about me that are abhorrent.

“There have been very many appropriate points in time where I have tried to get in contact with Charlotte, but they haven’t worked out.

“Obviously, Charlotte only has one side of the story. The truth is relationships don’t work out and people split up and you either get to keep in contact with your child or you don’t.”

“The last time I tried to get in contact with her was before Ruby’s birth, but the reaction I got was ’Go away’.

“I was passing by her house and the intention was just to say hello. Gavin’s mum was there – she seemed really nice.

“But she said she didn’t want any arguments. She went and asked her, but Charlotte didn’t want to hear.”

Mr Reed also told the paper he was not interested in the millions she has earned during her career as an opera singer, pop star and presenter, adding that his life was “very comfortable”.

“If she called me tomorrow, I would love to talk to her,” he said. “I would love to be able to just go round to her house, dig her garden, replace some light bulbs and tighten some screws – and do the same thing as any dad would like to do for their daughter.

“It will only happen if Charlotte wants it to happen. I’m still hopeful that she will get in touch, but I’ve done all I can now.”