I missed this article from last week (and started a new thread as I see previous threads are locked so I cannot revive one of the older threads on this public figure.)
My observations:
- The surrogate mother contacted Ollie through social media "Ward searched Instagram for Ollie Locke, one of the stars of the reality show, which follows the lives of rich, young people living in the affluent London borough — and sent him a direct message."
- Rebecca's age isn't mentioned but the ages of the two men are.
- Other women have already been 'used' as for their wombs and eggs "Failed attempts with a Brazilian egg-donor and two embryo transfers in Mexico and Cyprus had ended in heartbreak. “I’d seen Ollie and Gareth going through this,” says Ward, 35, who is originally from Co Durham. “They’d just lost their second pregnancy at six weeks, so I just messaged saying that it broke my heart and that if I could help in any way, please just let me know.”
- And "That private message led to a short exchange, which led to a Zoom call or two and, a few weeks later, an initial lunch meeting at J Sheekey restaurant, in London’s Covent Garden." (Imagine writing back to an unsolicited DM from a stranger and it progressing to a multiple pregnancy - Rebecca is expecting twins.
- "They began the surrogacy process almost immediately" so no time to form that long-term friendship and trust we are told is the bedrock of Uk 'altruistic' surrogacy
- Without comment "They used a donor egg from a London egg bank that was fertilised with a mix of both men’s sperm, meaning they won’t know who the genetic father is."
- "Since then, the trio have been sharing their story with the world, not only via the hit TV show, which Ward has appeared on, but via Instagram posts documenting their journey." Rebecca has become a public figure too, to some degree, as a result of the approach and subsequent pregnancy.
- Many women came forward offering to be a surrogate. “It’s a weird thing because you have to wonder, with our backgrounds, what the intentions and motivations of people reaching out are. That’s always the concern because you’re like, ‘Does someone want to do this because they see us on TV?’ ” But they say it was clear from the beginning that Ward’s motivations were altruistic."
- Also without comment "Ward has faced criticism — both from people close to her and the public messaging her on social media — but says the response has been positive overall. “There’s just a few people that are saying ‘Anyone can buy anything these days’ or ‘How can you just give a child up like that?’ but they’re just not educated on the matter,” she says. “I’m not selling a child. I’m not giving my child away. I’m basically an oven and I’m helping to create a family because I believe everyone should have that chance.”
- And "There have been other hurdles too, such as breaking the news to her children Buddy, eight, and Rudy, five. Ward was particularly worried about her eldest, she says, who was more aware of what was going on. “I wanted to make sure he was happy. We had a lot of conversations. I remember the first one we had. He cried and said he didn’t want me to do it. But then we got books to help him understand and now he’s so happy for me to help create a family for someone else.” and later "“I’ve made sure my boys don’t feel too attached — but I suppose it’s really, really good we’re all maintaining a relationship"
- "The couple estimate the process has cost upward of £200,000. Locke has an estimated fortune of £8 million...Having planned to conceive in the US — where they would be entitled to more information about their egg donor — the couple and their surrogate were diverted by Covid restrictions to Mexico, where they went through one unsuccessful round of IVF. When the country was put on the red travel list, they paid for five embryos to be transferred to Cyprus, having been banned from bringing them into the UK because they’d started the process abroad and it was incompatible with UK rules. When that second attempt ended in miscarriage, at six weeks and two days, “doctors advised we seek another surrogate”, says Locke." Doctors advised? I suspect the incompability with the rules was because the egg donors had anonymity which is not permitted in the UK.
- . If we weren’t, I’d still be able to see them grow up in the public eye, but this way I can see them privately,” says Ward, adding that is “super-proud” of what she is doing. “Why shouldn’t everyone have the chance to become parents and to have a family of their own? That’s what we’re put here for, I think.” Women are not put here for this.
I saw Ollie Locke on Made in Chelsea and became his surrogate (thetimes.co.uk)