'We don't want them to get used to a certain daddy!' Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson and husband Carl discuss same-sex parenting and surrogates as they introduce their precious twins
They announced the arrival of twins through a surrogate in May, becoming parents to a baby girl Phoebe and boy Chase.
And Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson and husband Carl Hyland introduced their adorable new arrivals to the world in a festive OK! magazine shoot this week, as they reveal the struggles they have overcome in a bid to become parents.
Posing with their bundles of joy in festive baby-grows, the couple appeared the picture of parental bliss as they chatted about their new family ahead of their first Christmas together.
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Happy family: Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson and husband Carl Hyland introduced their adorable twins Phoebe and Chase to the world in a festive shoot for OK! magazine
Kieron and Carl revealed that the couple struggle with the day-to-day runnings of parenthood, due to the social viewpoints still surrounding male same-sex parenting.
Carl said: 'The world’s changing and I’m sure the processes will change to go with that, but it’s just still a little stuck behind.’
Kieron, who has played Ste Hay in Hollyoaks since 2006, added: ‘This is nothing to do with same-sex parents but for dads in general.
'We’ve been to places where the changing facilities were only in the ladies’ toilets and they get a bit freaked out about what to do in that situation. But if it’s any dad out with their baby, the baby is still going to need changing at some point.’
Soap star: Kieron has played Ste Hay on Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks since 2006, and also starred in a documentary Raised by Queers about same-sex parenting
Proud parents: Kieron and Carl married in 2015, and welcomed their baby twins in May of this year
Kieron and Carl also revealed that they have taken to fatherhood like ducks to water, and there are new joys everyday in raising Chase and Phoebe.
‘We don’t give the babies a cot on a particular side of the bed. We swap them each night so the baby doesn’t get used to a certain daddy,' Kieron said.
'Every day they do something that makes you smile!’ Carl added.
Last Christmas the couple announced they were expecting twins in an adorable festive video, opening a present with a card that read 'Twins coming 2017.'
Thrilled: Kieron revealed the names of his bundles of joy in a sweet snap of their hospital bands, as he and Carl welcomed their children through a surrogate in May
Get them watching early: Kieron also recently shared an adorable snap of Phoebe and Chase watching their dad in action on Hollyoaks
Christmas spirit: Kieron's was full interview was in the latest issue of OK! magazine out now
The couple's baby joy came just 10 months after Kieron revealed they had been struggling to conceive a baby through IVF.
Speaking at the time, he told The Mirror: 'We were hoping to have a baby this year. Unfortunately, like anyone who is trying for a baby through IVF - whether they are gay couples or not - it is a lottery.
'We have tried it four times, with the same surrogate mum, and we have fallen into that 30% bracket of it not working.
'But we have not given up the fight and are still continuing. We are going to keep trying until it is successful.'
Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today
Making progress: Kieron and Carl revealed the day-to-day struggles they suffer in raising their twins, and how the social view towards two father parenting needs to change
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