Elton John says he ‘grew up in fear of parents’ – and gives one tip to Mark Wright 

Elton John says he ‘grew up in fear of parents’ – and gives one tip to Mark Wright 

Mark Wright and Olly Murs were both offered some words of wisdom about all things parenting from Elton John during a heartfelt interview on Heart Radio

Elton John opened up about fatherhood with Heart Radio listeners (Image: Getty Images)

Mark Wright recently became a father for the first time after wife Michelle Keegan gave birth to a baby girl – and he has been offered words of wisdom by none other than Elton John.

He was interviewing the Rocket Man star alongside his Heart FM co-presenter Olly Murs. Elton was promoting his new album that features Brandi Carlile.

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One of the songs on the Who Believes in Angles record touched on parenthood – a topic of huge interest to Mark and Olly who both have young daughters.

Wanting advice from the legendary performer, Mark said they were “seriously news dads” before asking for Elton’s biggest tip.

Never one to disappoint, Elton shared: “I was brought up in a very strict household in the ‘ 50s. I grew up in fear of my mum and my dad and I said to David when we were having Zachary… I said, ‘ I never want my kids to grow up in fear. I never want them to be afraid of us. ‘

Photo of singer Sir Elton John, wearing all black, and looking rather sad while he is interviewed at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
The legendary musician opened up about his childhood (Image: Michelle Quance/Variety via Getty Images)

” I was walking on egg shells the whole time in my childhood. And it wasn’t a bad childhood but the fear of doing something wrong and I said to David, ‘ that’s it, they mustn’t be filled with fear’.

“Have discipline, of course, but no fear, no smacking, nothing. And it has worked beautifully, they have been fantastic”.

Elton is immensely private about his two sons, Zachary and Elijah, and they are rarely seen out with their famous fathers. After becoming a first-time dad via surrogacy on Christmas Day in 2010, Elton said it was “the best decision we’ve ever made”.

Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan's newborn
Baby Palma has brough great joy to Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan’s families (Image: Instagram)

And speaking to Olly earlier in the radio show, Mark offered a similar sentiment, saying: “It is the best thing ever. It is the best thing ever. Except when I am trying to wind her after a bottle at 2am, nightmare”.

Michelle gave birth to Palma earlier this month, and despite loving life as a father, Mark also opened up to listeners about the challenges, especially when a listener called Lisa contacted the show to say she was tired from sorting clothes.

Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright
The first-time parents are enjoying their new lives (Image: Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal)

Unable to resist, Mark joked: “Lisa, I’m going to go back to what you just said there, it’s very tiring sorting your clothes in your room – don’t talk to me about tired right now”.

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