Laura Whitmore has recounted how now-boyfriend Iain Stirling procrastinated for so long in asking her for a date that she had to do it herself.
Appearing on JD’s In The Duffle Bag podcast series, Laura, 34, recalled: ‘When we first met he didn’t even hit on me, he was too nervous to hit on me! I think he was intimidated by me.
‘I remember Iain was too scared to ask me out so in the end I had to ask him out.
Taking matters into her own hands: Laura Whitmore has recounted how now-boyfriend Iain Stirling procrastinated for so long in asking her for a date that she had to do it herself
‘He used to send me random messages, DM me and ask me about my dog.
‘It took nine months but we got there! I was like “let’s just go for a drink”. I think I had to make the moves on him.’
The Irish presenter also revealed that she has often felt self-conscious about her accent.
‘I’m already really aware and self-conscious of my accent. People are always going to be mean and rude, so I just choose not to look at that,’ she said. ‘People want to rile you up, they say something just to get a reaction but I’m too busy living my life to reply to that.
‘There’s a lot of insecurities and I think that’s being human. There’s highs and lows and it’s about navigating through that.. You know what, being in my 30s is so much better than my 20s.’
Laura, 34, recalled: ‘When we first met he didn’t even hit on me, he was too nervous to hit on me! I think he was intimidated by me’
Guest appearance: She was appearing on JD’s In The Duffle Bag podcast series
Speaking about using her social platform for change, she said: ‘I like to use social media for positives but sometimes you do need to call people out but it’s taken me until now to do that and to feel confident calling people out.’
Laura has recently returned from South Africa, where she hosted the first winter season of Love Island – which was blighted mid-way through by the tragic news of former-host Caroline Flack’s suicide.
Of Love Island, Laura said: ‘I love the show but I did have to think “do I want to go back here?” because as much as I love it, I know it’s a big show and it throws you in the centre of all this media attention that I didn’t necessarily want.
‘So you have to weigh up the good and the bad and it all came down to the fact that I love this show, so of course I wanted to do it!’
She went on: ‘I remember Iain was too scared to ask me out so in the end I had to ask him out’
Back to work: Laura put on a brave face as she returned to work on Wednesday – the day after her late friend Caroline Flack’s funeral
Laura put on a brave face as she returned to work on Wednesday – the day after her late friend Caroline’s funeral.
She performed a DJ set at The Park for day two of the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire.
Earlier in the day, Laura and her boyfriend Iain, 32, honoured their late friend with moving messages, after the 40-year-old presenter was laid to rest following her tragic suicide on 15 February.
DJ: The Love Island host performed a DJ set at The Park for day two of the Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire
Remembered: Earlier in the day, Laura and her boyfriend Iain Stirling, 32, honoured their late friend with moving messages on Wednesday
Laura proved she was the ultimate professional as she entertained the thousands who had gathered to watch the horse racing unfold.
The Irish presenter enthusiastically talked to the crowd and threw her hand in the air during her scheduled DJ set.
Laura took to the stage after sharing details of Caroline’s funeral on Instagram. She wrote: ‘Beautiful send off yesterday for a life that ended too soon. See you on the other side Flack, have the pina coladas waiting x.’
Laura’s beautiful words were accompanied by a picture of her posing with Caroline at a party, laughing together.
Brave face: Laura proved she was the ultimate professional as she entertained the thousands who had gathered to watch the horse racing unfold
Born entertainer: The Irish presenter enthusiastically talked to the crowd and threw her hand in the air during her scheduled DJ set
Iain also posted a message of his own, which the Love Island voiceover artist accompanied with a behind-the-scenes picture of him eating pizza with Caroline.
He wrote: ‘Yesterday we said goodbye to Caroline. It was a small service filled with her friends and family.
‘The day was spent sharing stories, singing songs and of course some tears were shed.
‘See you on the other side Flack’: Laura shared a moving tribute to her late friend Caroline the day after her funeral
‘You were so loved Caz’: Love Island voiceover artist Iain Stirling also posted a tribute to the beloved presenter
Moving: The comedian shared some beautiful words about Caroline and how her close friends and family will remember her
‘As someone who had the worst FOMO in the world I know Carrie would have hated missing it. And her infectious laugh was painfully absent.
‘You were so loved Caz, by so many – I hope you knew that. And I hope you’re now at peace. X.’
Laura Whitmore launches season 2 of JD’s In The Duffle Bag podcast series with a live International Women’s Day episode. Download from Apple, iTunes, Spotify and A-cast and leave a review to win a holiday for two to Majorca.
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