Reality star Jake Quickenden reveals touching tribute to late father with new baby's name

Dancing On Ice winner Jake Quickenden has announced he's expecting a baby boy with his wife Sophie, and the couple have already decided on a name for their unborn child

Jake Quickenden revealed he plans to keep his late dad's legacy alive by passing on his name to his soon-to-arrive son. The 36 year old TV heartthrob, who is already a doting dad to three year old Leo and stepdad to Freddie, aged 10, is buzzing with excitement about the new addition, expected with his other half Sophie, 31, come January.

But there's still a decision to be made when it comes to picking a name for the newborn. In an exclusive chinwag with OK!, Jake spills the beans: "We've got two in the running I'm not going to give them away just yet. I don't want to say them, and then we might totally change our minds. I prefer one, and Soph likes the other, so I think we're going to wait until he's born, have a look at him, see what he looks like. I'm sure it will cause World War Three when we each want to go with a different name."

The loss of Jake's dad in 2009 to myeloma tore him apart, and the grief struck again when his brother Oliver succumbed to bone cancer at just 19 in 2013. Yet, their spirits remain part of the family tapestry, with Jake sharing a heartfelt nod to them: "Leo's middle name is Oliver, after my little brother, and the new baby's middle name is going to be Paul after my dad," he discloses.

"I can't wait for the new baby to arrive. We've just got back off our holidays, and it'll be the last holiday with just four of us. But honestly, becoming a dad... There's nothing I love more. Leo's with me now, I've come to see my mum for a few days. I'm 36 years old and my best mate is a three year old. I'm not even embarrassed saying it! He's my little best mate. We do everything together.

"When I leave the house, he literally loses it. He's like, 'Where are you going? I want to come.' I'm like, 'you can't come to the gym.' He was saying to Sophie the other day, 'Mummy, when I'm five, can I go to the gym with daddy?' I love that he sees me doing things, and he wants to do it with me. So adding another little boy into the mix is going to be great - I love being a boy dad."

And although this baby hasn't been born yet, Jake's already considering baby number three.

"I don't know if we're going to have another baby after this little one arrives. I know what Soph's like. After a few months have passed and the sleepless nights calm down a little bit, I can imagine her saying: 'Shall we have one more ,' but we'll see," he says.

Jake gushed over his role as a father. "My biggest achievement is becoming a dad, and I can't wait for another little baby, so we just get this Christmas out of the way. And then next Christmas, there'll be five of us."

He's collaborating with ODEON Cinemas to launch a fun pyjama party at the movies on 16 and 17 November 2024, rewarding patrons who show up in their nightwear with a £5 ticket valid for January 2025.

The Dancing on Ice favourite shared his comfy plans. "I've not been to the cinema in my pyjamas, but I know that ODEON did some research saying that 50% of Brits wished it was socially acceptable to leave the house in their pyjamas, and I've definitely been to the shop in my pyjamas. I love being in comfy clothes. I can't stand wearing restrictive clothes like jeans or a suit - my worst nightmare is getting in a suit. I'd rather be in pyjamas and that's it. My kids are the same. They would spend all day in them if they could."

Addressing potential shyness about venturing outdoors in sleepwear, Jake reassures: "You're just in your pyjamas. And hopefully on the 16th and 17th of November, everyone will be there in their pyjamas, so it'll just be the norm."

He added a liberating message about self-expression, too. "I think we live in a world where we worry too much about what other people think, and we should just do what makes us happy. People judge you no matter what, people judge you what you wear, so who cares? Get in your pyjamas!"

Kids will be thrilled - it feels like a mini adventure for them to leave the house in their pyjamas. Grab your popcorn, get comfy and watch a lovely film while all in your pyjamas. It's delightful! And then you essentially earn a fiver for doing it. There's not much I wouldn't do for money," he laughed.