Television presenter Jonathan Ross has opened up about the emotional backstory behind his extensive toy collection, revealing that it serves as a means of compensating for a childhood marked by financial constraints. Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, the 64-year-old broadcaster shared poignant memories from his upbringing in a working-class family in London, where his late father, John, and his mother, actress Martha, raised him alongside his four brothers and one sister, including fellow TV host Paul Ross, aged 68.
Recalling the difficulties his family faced, Ross described their situation as one that fell short of affluence. "I wouldn't say poor – but I guess we were poor. We were not a well-off family. When I was very young, we sometimes struggled with cash, so food would be borrowed from other people," he explained. He recounted a particularly harrowing incident from his childhood, stating, "I cut my finger off when I was about one and a half because [my mum] had gone out to borrow food – we had no food in the house – and she'd left me... to be looked after by my older brother [Paul] who himself was only three and a half."
After achieving fame in broadcasting, primarily as the host of "The Last Resort with Jonathan Ross," he began collecting toys that he had longed for as a child. "Coming from a family with no money... I treated myself to the things that I felt a deep and simmering sense of entitlement to, that I didn't have when I was a kid," he stated. Now, he claims to own "probably the largest collection of a certain specific type of Japanese toy outside of Japan."
Jonathan reminisced about a specific childhood desire for the Major Matt Mason action figure, a symbol of his a desire during those formative years. Instead of the desired toy, he settled for a small, free giveaway figure, crafting a makeshift space suit from paper. "Now I have every single Major Matt Mason you could possibly hope for, including several of the prototypes and original 1960s boxes they were displayed in," he said during the podcast.
In a recent segment of the Antiques Roadshow Special, Ross showcased his vast vintage toy collection, providing a detailed look into his fascination with these items. He candidly admitted that while he knows his hobby may not be the healthiest, he finds solace in his collection, describing the experience as having a "burden lifted." When questioned about the implications of his obsession by host Fiona Bruce, he reflected, "Obviously not, no, I’m, I’m aware that this is not healthy," contrasting himself as a collector rather than a hoarder who can't let go of items.
Moreover, Jonathan hinted at an end to his once-grand Halloween celebrations, a tradition he shared with his family, including his wife Jane Goldman and their children, Harvey, 31, Betty Kitten, 33, and daughter Honey, 28. He mentioned that his love for elaborate Halloween parties stemmed from his admiration for American culture and the early experiences of childhood festivities, often inviting numerous friends to join in the celebrations. In an effort to compensate for the lack of community participation, he escalated the extravagance of the parties, often hiring performers to frighten guests.
However, Ross indicated a change of heart regarding these events, stemming from his daughter Betty's health challenges following a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. He felt it inappropriate to host large gatherings while his daughter was dealing with illness. "I thought, I can't have a big party going on in the garden when someone's upstairs in bed and can't enjoy life in that way," he explained.
In light of Betty's medical challenges, Ross has sought various treatment options for her condition, showcasing his supportive role as a father. In previous comments on "Loose Women," Ross described his daughter's situation, discussing potential treatments and emphasising the importance of her being actively involved in her own care decisions. This personal insight into his family life, combined with his reflections on childhood, has offered listeners a comprehensive understanding of the motivations behind both his toy collection and changing family traditions.
Source: Noah Wire Services