Jacqueline Wilson has opened up on her personal life for the first time (Picture: Getty Images)

Children’s author Jacqueline Wilson has come out publicly as gay, opening up on her 18-year relationship with her partner Trish.

The iconic writer has spoken for the first time on her personal life, explaining that she’s been living ‘very happily’ with Trish.

‘I’ve never really been in any kind of closet,’ Jacqueline said. ‘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.’

Explaining that only her mother was ‘appalled’ at her relationship, she pointed out: ‘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.’




Jacqueline, 74, is set to publish her new book, Love Frankie which features a love story between two girls, as well tackling issues including a separation, bullying, and sibling rivalry.

However, she’s not into the idea that she’s any kind of role model for teens struggling with their sexuality, quipping to Guardian Review that there must be some more ‘glamorous’ mentors out there.

Jacqueline and Trish have been together for 18 years (Picture: Getty Images Europe)

‘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,’ she said.

Jacqueline previously came under fire for her comments on transgender children.

Speaking to The Telegraph, the author said: ‘If there was a really strong reason for me wanting to write about a trans child then possibly. But I wouldn’t want people to think I’d jumped on the bandwagon just because it’s current and in the news.

Jacqueline’s books are wildly popular (Picture: FilmMagic)

‘If only everybody could be and act exactly the way they want to but not actually try to change themselves physically, I think that would be easier.’

Wilson said: ‘Some people, right from the time that they are toddlers, are aware that something is wrong and they wish that they could be the other sex. But I’m also aware that some children feel strongly for a while and then they change their minds. I think it’s a decision that has to be left a while until you are utterly mature and utterly certain you know all the actual consequences.

‘Where I would be very, very worried is young children taking any kind of drugs, hormones or whatever, the long term effects of which we don’t know. And the whole idea of having major surgery… If you’re a young child it’s not a question of just having bits of you lopped off. It’s really serious, difficult surgery which can have pretty devastating consequences, I would imagine. It’s nothing to be taken lightly.’

Jacqueline, who was previously married to Millar Wilson from 1965 to 2004, is best known for her wildly popular children’s books, including The Story Of Tracey Beaker, Double Act, and The Illustrated Mum.



Back in 2014, she was honoured with the Hans Christian Andersen Award for her lifetime contribution as a children’s writer.

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