Jacqueline Wilson has publicly revealed her homosexuality at the age of 74. The renowned children’s author disclosed this information during an interview with The Guardian as she prepared to release her new gay love story, Love Frankie.
Wilson also candidly discussed her 18-year relationship with her partner Trish, whom she met at a party following the end of her marriage to police officer William Millar Wilson, which lasted from 1965 to 2004.
During the interview, she expressed, “I’ve never really been in any kind of closet. It would be such old news for anybody that has ever known anything much about me. Even the vaguest acquaintance knows perfectly well that we are a couple.”
Reflecting on her mother’s reaction to her relationship, she shared, “That wasn’t too devastating for me because my mum cordially hated my ex-husband; she didn’t really approve of any of my friends.”
In her upcoming book, Love Frankie, Wilson tells a love story between two girls while addressing themes such as separation, bullying, and sibling rivalry. She explained, “I wanted to write a truthful, honest book about a girl falling in love with another girl. It’s certainly not aimed at young gay teenagers, it’s aimed at all teenagers who have ever worried because they haven’t fallen in love, or they have fallen in love.”
Regarding being a role model for teenagers struggling with their sexuality, Wilson commented, “I don’t think that girls would ever want a grey-haired, wrinkly writer as a role model if they were wanting to feel good about maybe being gay. I’m sure they could find much more glamorous examples.”
Jacqueline Wilson is widely recognized for her acclaimed children’s books, such as The Story Of Tracey Beaker, Double Act, and The Illustrated Mum. In 2014, she received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for her significant contributions as a children’s writer.