Des O'Connor weds fourth wife after 17-year romance

So it was always a bit of a conundrum why the Countdown host had waited 17 years to make Jodie Brooke Wilson, 38, his fourth wife.

The veteran TV presenter, who is 75, has posed for pictures to celebrate his fourth marriage to long-term love Jodie Brooke Wilson, 38.

The Countdown host toasted marrying his girlfriend of 17 years last week following the birth of their first child, Adam.

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The couple were engaged for four years after O'Connor proposed with a pink diamond ring over the kitchen table.

Australian born singer-songwriter Miss Brooke Wilson said: "It's going to be very nice to be Mrs O'Connor instead of always being referred to as Des's partner. I will be proud to call him my husband."

However, her new husband admitted: "I quite liked being her boyfriend. We have been on honeymoon for 17 years and I am looking forward to many more good times."

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The pair insisted that the age gap had never been an issue.

The new Mrs O'Connor told Hello!: "A lot of my friends are going through separations and terrible unhappiness so I count myself lucky to have someone like Des. In fact my girlfriends hold Des up as an exemplary partner."

Youthful O'Connor, who has four daughters from his three previous marriages, explained that since the birth of their son he takes greater care of his health to make sure that he does not miss out on him growing up.

He admitted: "His being here makes me take care of myself much more. I speed-walk or exercise every day, even when I'm at the studio in Leeds for Countdown. My father lived to be 95 so I've certainly got good genes."

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The couple held a lavish ceremony at Highclere Castle in Buckinghamshire last week in which three year-old Adam was ring bearer.

His daughters Karen, 54, Tracy Jane, 44, Samantha, 42, and 19-year-old Kristina also attended.

Fellow British showbusiness icon Cilla Black was present along with Countdown co-host Carol Vorderman and former colleague Melanie Sykes.

Comic poet and friend Pam Ayres was enlisted to read one of her most popular poems Yes, I'll Marry You My Dear following the speeches.

Miss Brooke Wilson was 21 when the couple first met on a revival of sixties game show Take Your Pick on which she was a hostess.

They announced their wedding date on daytime chat show the Paul O'Grady Show in May this year three years after the original proposal in 2003.

Des met first wife Phyllis Gill at a Butlins holiday camp.

He married Gillian Vaughan in 1960 and was with her for 22 years. In 1985 he wed Jay Rufer, who was 24.