Changing Rooms presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has said he’s glad his wife Jackie thought he was gay when they first met.

The couple met aged 19 at a dinner party, and have been married for 25 years.

“It was a complete, Olympic instant attraction,” he said to Radio Times Magazine, adding later: “I was actually quite pleased to find that she had assumed I was gay because it meant that my very, very stealth pounce was entirely unexpected and unguarded.”

Bowen’s recent venture is a BBC2 documentary called Cracking China. With a camera crew in tow, he’s attempting to expand his business ventures in China and Mexico.

Lawrence and his wife Jackie (Andy Butterton/PA Archive)
Lawrence and his wife Jackie (Andy Butterton/PA Archive)

He’s also attempting to venture into lingerie designing at the same time.

Bowen credits his marriage success to the fact that they have “completely and utterly grown up together”.

He said: “We enjoy each other so much, you know. The children aren’t around anymore, and we spend so much time together – we have a Pre-Raphaelite intensity and intimacy.”

The children he’s referring to are their two daughters – Cecile and Hermione – whom he describes as “not brats at all and they are very thoughtful”.

He also admits having always had a ‘thing’ for The Good Life’s Margo Leadbetter (played by actress Penelope Keith), but says Jackie is far sexier.

“She’s like Margo Leadbetter with Madonna thrown in,” he added.