Kaye Adams has revealed that she and her partner of three decades, Ian Campbell, quietly entered into a civil partnership last year, admitting the decision was made largely for tax and financial reasons.

The Loose Women star, 63, has been in a long-term relationship with Ian since 1995, and the couple share two daughters — Charley, 23, and Bonnie, 18. Despite building a life together for 30 years, they had never married — until now.

Kaye made the candid confession while appearing on the Suddenly Single podcast, hosted by Siobhan Wykes, when she was asked why she and Ian had never tied the knot.

Laughing, she explained:

“It’s funny, because we do have a civil partnership — and it’s for tax reasons. We only did it last year.”

WHY KAYE RESISTED — THEN CHANGED HER MIND

Kaye admitted she had long been reluctant to formalise their relationship after previously meeting a couple who had married purely for financial benefits.

She recalled:

“I could see on her face that she was really sad — that she didn’t want to be married for ‘tax purposes’ — whereas he was kind of quite cocky about it. I said to Ian that night, ‘If we ever get married, it is not going to be for tax reasons.’”

For years, that stance held firm — until their financial advisor intervened with what Kaye described as blunt and unavoidable advice.

“Last year our financial advisor said, ‘You’re absolutely mental. You either get married or have a civil partnership because it will impact on your children.’
I said, ‘I don’t want to get married for tax reasons — but I’ll get a civil partnership.’”

A CEREMONY SO QUIET, ALMOST NO ONE KNEW

True to form, the couple kept the legal milestone extremely low-key. Kaye revealed that only a handful of people were present on the day.

“It was basically me, Ian, his big sister and her husband — and that was it. Over and done with. I don’t even know if it was a registrar, but she was lovely.”

By coincidence, the pair already had dinner booked that evening with a group of friends — none of whom had been told what had happened earlier that day.

“When we walked in — and we were late, because we’re always late — everyone already had a glass of champagne. One of my close friends had even got the restaurant to print the date on all the menus. It was actually really nice.”

‘NOT ONE TINY SHRED HAS CHANGED’

Despite the legal shift, Kaye insists the civil partnership has not altered their relationship in any meaningful way.

“It hasn’t changed one tiny remote shred of anything between us.”

Reflecting on why they never married, she added:

“I honestly don’t know why we didn’t. I wasn’t pushing for it. I never dreamt of my wedding day or my dress. Ian’s a bit of a beatnik — not materialistic, not ceremonial, a bit Peter Pan. Neither of us were pushing, so it just never happened.”

Kaye has previously said that having children together represented their true commitment, rather than marriage.

A QUIETLY ROMANTIC PARTNER

While Ian avoids grand gestures, Kaye described him as “quietly romantic”, admitting he still surprises her with flowers from time to time.

She also recalled a rare big gesture just before Covid:

“He booked a Valentine’s weekend in Venice. He’s fluent in Italian, and I love travelling there with him — he organises everything.”

RECENT CHALLENGES

Last December, Kaye revealed she postponed Christmas after Ian was rushed to hospital with chest pains, forcing them to spend a night in A&E while she later came down with a virus.

She has also endured a turbulent year professionally after being removed from her role at BBC Scotland, following allegations of bullying junior staff — claims she has firmly denied.

Despite everything, Kaye appears resolute and reflective — choosing practicality over pageantry, and a life lived quietly over one defined by convention.