Ben Foden reveals he wants his and Una Healy’s children to go to college in US

January 18, 2022

Ben Foden would love his children, Aoife and Tadhg, to go to university in America.

The rugby star, who is currently competing on Dancing On Ice, sat down with wife Jackie Belanoff-Smith for a catch up with OK! and revealed he'd love his eldest kids to go to college in America.

The star, 36, shares Aoife, eight, and Tadhg, six, with ex-wife Una Healy, 40, and the children currently live in Ireland with their mother.

Ben, who is in the UK to focus on Dancing On Ice, is currently based in New York with his businesswoman wife Jackie, and says he would love for Aoife and Tadhg to consider university there.

Meanwhile, Jackie would love the couple's daughter, Farrah, 19 months, to go to school in the UK.

Ben explained: "It’s weird, because Jackie wants to school Farrah in England, but I would kind of like Aoife and Tadhg to go to college in America. It’s a lot of money, but I think if you go to the right college in America and get the right degree, the job options are so much better."

Jackie explained to OK! why she'd prefer her daughter to get an education over here, explaining that she worries about gun violence in America.

She said: "I would love her to go to school over here. I think the education is better and it's safer.

"When you become a parent it becomes scary giving your kid over to school. I’d love Ben to get a job over here too but realistically it’s best for the entire family for him to take the highest paying job he can get."

The couple sat down for an exclusive interview with OK! ahead of Ben's time on Dancing On Ice, with Ben admitting he hopes the show will heal his public image.

“Doing a show like this, you try to show people at home that I’m not a bad guy, everyone makes mistakes,” the 36-year-old explained. “I’m very happy and we’ve moved on from all that.

"Jackie and I have Farrah, Una and I are in a good place. It’s all part of the healing process, how you’re perceived. And I think we’re getting there.”