Duncan James worried pandemic would cause split from Rodrigo Reis, but now they're talking marriage and kids

Duncan James has admitted the coronavirus pandemic left him worried for his relationship with Rodrigo Reis, but now they're closer than ever - and talking marriage and children.

The Blue singer, 43, and his boyfriend Reis, 27, have been together for two-and-a-half years, but had been unable to see each other for the past four months because Reis lives in Belgium and COVID restrictions were keeping them apart.

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In an interview with OK! magazine, which James said was his first with a male partner, he said: "People like us, in long-distance relationships, (the pandemic has) had such a huge impact on our lives, because it’s taken away our opportunity to see each other, just because we live in different countries.

"How can you have a relationship with someone when you can’t see them? It’s horrible."

Describing himself as the “Negative Nancy” in the relationship, he said their lack of contact had left him questioning whether to break up, but that Reis had talked him round.

He added that Reis had encouraged him to seek help through a therapist during the pandemic to deal with his struggles with anxiety.

James and Reis said that their priority was to get a UK passport for Reis and to be living in the same country, but revealed that they had already talked marriage plans.

The boyband singer said that his ideal wedding would be "somewhere on a nice beach, with a little church", a quiet, private ceremony rather than a large celebrity-filled celebration.

James, who already has a daughter from a previous relationship, added that they had even discussed starting a family together.

He said: "We’ve talked about it. Once Rodrigo is in the UK, finding a place to live together would be the next thing. We can’t raise a child living in different countries. Down the line, it’s something we’d talk about – but right now it’s not on the horizon."

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During the interview, James also said that he felt "confident and happy" to be doing his first magazine shoot with a boyfriend after 10 years of struggling to feel comfortable since coming out.

He said he had felt "frightened" and "ashamed" in the past, but was thankful to his fans for all the support that he and Reis had received.

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