‘I'm fine with my kids hating me', says Angela Scanlon as she talks parenting fails, Ozempic and smartphone bans

The Irish Sun

19-07-2025

ON TV and radio, Angela Scanlon may come across as quite carefree.
But when it comes to parenting, she is definitely no-nonsense.
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Angela Scanlon may come across as quite carefree but she is a no-nonsense parent
Credit: Mark Hayman
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Angela doesn't allow kids Ruby, seven, and Marnie, three, to have a smartphone
The 41-year-old mum to
'Ruby stamping her feet and telling me that her best mate has one does not mean I'm going to get her a phone if I believe that she is better off as a human without one,' Angela says.
'I'm OK with being the bad bitch.
"I'm actually fine with her hating me if it makes sense in the long run for her not to have one. I'm still the parent.'
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'It's affected my concentration.
"I will be reading a book and think: 'Oh, I've read three pages and have no idea what it said.'
"There's a lack of
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"My plan is to hold off for as long as possible.'
Her strong line on phones has forced her to change her own behaviour, too.
Angela Scanlon lifts the lid on new Virgin Radio show & why she REFUSED to wear fake tan on Strictly
'I think our generation is justifying it because we love it.
"I don't want to let it go. It's the conditioning.
"You're going: 'Oh my god, how am I going to tell her she's not allowed it when I'm sitting there refreshing.
"It requires us all to make changes.'
Angela's firm but humorous approach to parenting made her the perfect first guest on our new parenting vodcast No Parental Guidance, which launches tomorrow.
Hosted by parenting influencer
Angela and her three sisters grew up in County Meath, Ireland, and she never considered that there were things she would not be able to do as a girl.
She's attempting to instil that attitude in her two young daughters.
But raising independent, confident women can have its own issues.
'I read about how we are 'snowplough parenting' – basically going just in front of our kids and moving obstacles out of their way and clearing their path, because you don't want them to have any upset in life.
'MY GIRLS ARE FEISTY'
"But you rob them of the opportunity to fall over and get up again and have the pride of overcoming something hard.
"My girls are feisty and strong-willed, but then there can be challenges with that at the school gates when you are running late and they are full of emotion,' she laughs.
'That's the Irish in them, too. Honestly, the temper. . . But they are going to need it.
"The world can be a difficult place for a woman, even now.
"I like the idea of them being able to show their teeth every so often, and not in the traditional tits and teeth kind of way.
"I mean show their fangs and sharpen their elbows.'
The TV presenter explains how the boys in her daughter Ruby's football team almost forced her to quit playing.
'She's quite competitive and she's good at it.
"There was an option to play on a mixed team, but after the trial she came home and said: 'No, I'm not going to do it.'
"She said the boys were mean and wouldn't pass the ball to her or any of the other girls.
'So I said: 'OK, so do you like football? You can decide if you want to go back.
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Angela prides herself on raising independent, confident women, like her and her sisters
Credit: Mark Hayman
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Angela, who studied business at Technological University Dublin, also runs her own jewellery company
Credit: Mark Hayman
"But if I loved something and a boy wouldn't let me do it, I don't think I would let him stop me.
"You are good at football. This is going to happen in life.
"People are going to not pass the ball to you. You're going to have to fight.
"This is a really important lesson. I'll leave you to make the choice.'
'She came back saying: 'I thought about it and you're right. I want to do it.
"I don't think boys should take football away from me.''
Looking at Angela's Instagram, you might imagine she has the juggle that is being a working mum nailed.
She laughs at the very idea. 'It's a s**t show,' she admits.
'Ruby said the other day: 'I can't do football because I told you my football boots are too small and you threw them out.'
"I'm thinking: 'It's 8.50am. I can't get you new football boots right this second.'
I have found the most brilliant bunch of women who are there throughout. I really depend on them
Angela Scanlon
'I have lowered the expectations of myself and embraced the chaos.'
While school WhatsApp groups often get a bad rap, Angela says she would be lost without hers.
She says: 'I'm always asking: 'Is there a parent-teacher meeting I'm supposed to be at? When is the cake sale?'
"But I have found the most brilliant bunch of women who are there throughout. I really depend on them.
"I've made some unbelievable lifelong friends.'
And as a person in the public eye, does she feel the pressure to look impeccable at the school gates?
'Ah, come on,' she says laughing. 'Look at me [pointing at her bare face].
"It's too exhausting. I have enough to do.
"I really like the separation. When I go on the school run, I'm a mum.
"There has been the odd time I've done a pick-up after a photo shoot and I'm all made up and everyone is like: 'Oooh'.
"But that is not my normal.'
However, away from her mum pals, there's another friendship that has blossomed – with Vicky Pattison.
They met on a panel show and launched a podcast together called Get A Grip.
'I LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH HER'
'I've known her for seven years.
"There was an easy chemistry between us that you don't get all the time with work.
"I messaged her and said: 'I'm doing a podcast and I think we should do it as a duo.'
"She said: 'That's right up my wheelhouse,' which I had to Google to check she was saying yes.
'I can't do her accent and she wouldn't dare do mine.
"I really have to tune into her when she's full Geordie.
"She said 'bairn' for the first time and I was like: 'What does that mean?'
"But I think it's great we have two heavily accented women who are reflective of the listeners.
"The podcast is like a woman's group chat and we go all over the place with our topics.
"I thought it was an Irish thing to go between the light and shade, but she's got that ability, too.'
Angela, who has been married to Roy, a 45-year-old entrepreneur, for 11 years, has been offering tips to new wife Vicky, who tied the knot with
'There's marital and baby chat and all sorts, because we're at very different stages, I suppose.
"I live vicariously through her and she taps me for tips.
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Angela has been married to entrepreneur Roy Horgan for 11 years
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Angela met Vicky Pattison on a panel show and they launched a podcast together called Get A Grip
"I don't know that she should be taking them, but I'm happy to offer!'
The pair also have talked about their struggles, too – Vicky has shared her journey with
She previously told Fabulous: 'I want my girls to be healthy and I try to impress that on them.
"It's tricky, because I don't remember when I was growing up and in the grip of it, having very many points of reference of people who had been there and come through it.
'I speak about it because what you want in those moments is a sense of hope, like: 'You can get to the other side and have a great life.'
She says now: 'PMDD was something that I was quite ignorant about, and that's when you realise there is real power and impact in sharing those stories and not shamefully hiding them.
"And it might not be PMDD or an eating disorder, but there will be things people can relate to and a sense of 'you are not alone'.'
As someone who has grown up with an eating disorder, does she worry about the rise of Ozempic, where there are women who are smaller than average lying to get it?
'It is terrifying, because there was that very singular ideal of beauty that we all grew up with.
"Now, you have people in the public eye of all shapes and sizes and colours and creeds.
"It's healthy for people to be able to see themselves reflected on screen.
Transparency provides relief for people and honesty allows for people to give themselves a goddamn break
Angela Scanlon
"Anything that's trying to corral us towards being the same as everybody else is not good.
'But, ultimately, the issue is actually less about the choices people are making, it's more about the judgment.
"We all feel that we're allowed to tear people apart for whatever their choices are.
'We chatted about the Kardashians' surgery on the podcast and if they should be transparent.
"Some people come out and tell you they've done it.
"And one part of the camp will go: 'Isn't that great? They're being honest.'
"And the other part will go: 'They shouldn't be doing it in the first place,' or 'They shouldn't be forcing it down our throats.''
She adds that she feels honesty is also key when it comes to how people portray parenting.
'Like with celebrity parents when they pretend they don't have help.
"And you are thinking: 'Oh my god, how does she do that? And why does her hair look OK?
"And why are the kids doing activities on a full crafting table and they've got their five-a-day and a f**king packed lunch and their runners are clean, when I can barely get them into the car and out the door.'
"Transparency provides relief for people and honesty allows for people to give themselves a goddamn break.'
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Angela and pro partner Carlos Gu on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023
Credit: BBC
Angela has recently landed a new weekend slot on Virgin Radio, allowing her to be a more present mum.
'I'm on Saturdays 10am-1pm. It's certainly more conducive to life as a working mother. I can do the swimming drop and go to work.
"It's more sociable, too. I'll be able to have a Friday-night wine with the mums to take the edge off a hard week!'
As well as her busy showbiz career – which included
'I feel very lucky to be able to do it, but it's hard .
"I studied business, so I've always had that desire to create something.
"I'm enjoying building FRKL and I'm hoping it's maybe something Ruby will take over.
'I like for her to realise that I do things that aren't just shiny things on telly, that actually there's a lot of quite dull day-to-day stuff and that hard work is really the only way.
"I also think it's important for them to know I'm making a choice to go to work versus staying at home, because I'm going to something I love.
"Otherwise, they're like: 'Oh my god, she's leaving to do something she hates. What does that say about us?'
"So I really try to be transparent with them.
"Honesty, that's my secret of parenting - and buying them new football boots, even if it's two days after the fact."
Get A Grip hosted by Angela Scanlon and Vicky Pattison, is available on all podcast platforms.
IN THE MAKE-UP CHAIR WITH ANGELA
What are your skincare heroes?
I love Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream. It's lush.
What are your make-up essentials?
I have multiple concealers, as I don't really wear foundation. Nars is gorgeous.
I've got a Trish McEvoy one for under-eyes and a Becca one that's been discontinued.
Any beauty hacks?
I bought a mouth guard as I realised I clenched my jaw, and it's relaxed my whole face.
What do you splurge on?
I got a Dermalux LED Phototherapy device. I'll lie with it on and have a little meditation.
Any budget buys?
Weleda Skin Food is incredible.
Who is your celebrity beauty icon?
Cate Blanchett– I like a woman to look like herself.
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