Not many people know that Martin Lewis actually has a famous wife.
The Money Saving Expert isn’t the only famous face in his family, as his partner Lara Lewington is a TV presenter.
Having spent six years as a weather presenter and showbiz correspondent for Channel 5, Lara featured in a weekly sketch on ITV1’s The Impressionable Jon Culshaw.
She has made appearances on Newsnight, Big Brother’s Big Mouth, The Weakest Link and BBC’s Let’s Dance for Sports Relief and was a panelist on ITV1’s Win, Lose or Draw.
Lara currently co-presents BBC’s Click with Spencer Kelly, a popular weekly technology news show, and is a Women’s magazine columnist.
In the early days of their blossoming relationship, Martin and Lara would do something that she has now banned him from.
(Image: PA)
The couple, who got married in 2009, would hire a motorbike while on holiday to travel around on while listening to their favourite song.
“We would occasionally hire a motorbike when we were on holiday and we’d sit there and we’d sing this song in the sun, on the back of a moped, both wearing helmets, being safe, I should note,” explained Martin on Desert Island Discs in June last year.
However, Lara has put a stop to Martin hopping on motorbikes since they became parents.
Their daughter Sapphire Susan Lewis, who has Martin wrapped around her little finger, was born in 2012 .
And Lara doesn’t want her husband to have a road accident now he is a father.
(Image: PA)
Martin added: “When we started going out, in the days when she would allow me to do this, I’m banned now since we had a child, I’m not allowed to ride a motorbike anymore,” he said.
It was actually a motorbike that left Lara in a state of terror in an eerie turn of events last year.
Back in September, Lara was shaken when a motorcyclist mugged her in the street in a terrifying incident.
Lara felt a person behind her but didn’t realise what was going on as the criminal swerved at speed before snatching her smartphone from her hand.
While she was “gutted” to lose many treasured family photos off her mobile, Lara was relieved she was unharmed and that her daughter was not there to witness the horror.
(Image: Instagram)
“Last night whilst out walking, a motorcycle swerved at speed, and the pillion rider grabbed my phone out of my hand,” explained Lara.
“As I felt someone behind me, for a split second I’d thought it was an accident happening and hoped the person was okay, then by the time I could turn around my phone was gone – with terrifying pace and accuracy.
“So focused on mask and hand sanitising these days, I guess I’d forgotten to be so vigilant about this. Obviously I was immediately grateful not to be hurt, and that my daughter wasn’t there to witness it – just a bit gutted I’d lost so many photos after a series of inexplicable backup fails.”
Miraculously, Lara managed to get her phone back after Martin immediately alerted the police.
(Image: Instagram)
A very kind cyclist managed to find her phone, which has Martin as a screensaver, after it was dumped by the vile thieves.
While the screen was shattered, Lara was pleased to be reunited with her phone as it had her precious family snaps on it.
She continued: “After my husband called the police (whilst I mentally figured out the frustrating and time consuming admin I’d need to do), shockingly via a call ‘home’ he got a message from a kind cyclist who had found the phone minutes later (thieves had dumped it) – and despite how damaged it was, and the coronavirus risk, had picked it up and tried to find its owner.
“Despite some initial weariness, we explained, to his shock, what had happened and asked if he’d meet us in a busy place. He was happy to.
“We jumped in a black cab to get there, told Junior the cabbie the story (he was outraged, and kindly decided to wait with us whilst we checked this wasn’t part two of the scam). But when we got there, Sam the cyclist, was an honest nice man, and returned my phone. The screen smashed, but the photos intact. Police report updated.”
Lara had on bit of advice for everyone to take from her ordeal.
She added: “The moral of the story? Have an old smartphone that not even a thief thinks is worth having.”
Using his own nickname, Martin refers to his wife as ‘Mrs Money Saving Expert’, or ‘MMSE’ for short.
Martin will be back on our screens this evening alongside co-host Angelica Bell to give us more tips and tricks to save money.
As January continues and the credit card bills continue to arrive, Martin is on hand to help the nation through tricky financial times.
He also answers questions on consumer rights and savings rates and there’s the latest News You Can Use and Martin’s Big Briefing.
*The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live airs tonight on ITV at 8.30pm