Fans will recognise Nathan Henry as the larger-than-life character we see on Geordie Shore. But below his bubbly exterior, the reality TV star is battling demons in his personal life, after his 75-year-old dad, Glen, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2023.
Now, the father and son duo have teamed up for a new show, Geordie Stories: Nathan and Dad, which follows the pair as they navigate Glen’s terminal diagnosis. In the four-part series, Nathan, 34, also meets up with Gabby Allen and Ashley Cain, as both stars have tragically been affected by cancer in their lives.
While viewers will be touched to see Nathan’s more emotional side, filming wasn’t without its laughs. Here, he opens up to heat about working with his dad and his plans for marriage and babies with his boyfriend of two years, whose identity he keeps private.
There are lots of emotional moments in the show…
The second scene we filmed was a car drive, when Dad cried. I'd never seen this man cry in my whole entire life, so I was thinking, ‘What the f*** have we done? Should we stop?’ But he thought it was important to get those bits. I don't think the shock hit me until later on, it was surreal. He’s a man of very few words, so I didn't know how he was going to cope. I’m really glad his dry sense of humour comes across, too.
Was being so open nerve wracking?
I couldn’t break down that wall at first – I didn’t want people to see me cry. But the penny finally dropped when we went to Cancer Black Care [a cancer support group for the black community]. I just broke down crying and had a full breakdown when I got home. But people need to see that – they may not cry in their office jobs, but the second they're alone, the emotions are real. So I’m glad I was vulnerable.
What was the moment like when your dad told you he had cancer?
My brothers were distraught, and that weirdly shifted me to be like, ‘Boys, you need to stop being ridiculous. It’s a terminal illness, but it's not a death sentence. He's not going to die tomorrow. There are so many more treatments that he can have.’ He was told he has stage four cancer, which is not good, but he’s 75 and his tablets can prolong his life for 10 to 15 years. My head was very logical, when I’m normally emotional. Dad’s doctors are probably sick of me going to appointments with him!
Does looking after your dad come naturally?
Although the circumstances are s***, it’s nice to be very involved. I'm at my dad's now two or three times a week. And I got to create memories for a whole three months while filming this, which we never would’ve done prior to his diagnosis. It's been a blessing in disguise.
At the end of the documentary, you say that your view on death has changed…
When I was little, I asked my dad what happens when we die, and he went, ‘Close your eyes, and you can't hear anything, and nothing's around you.’ Since then, it scared the s*** out of me. But after this experience, I think there is beauty in ageing. I can’t say I'm excited, but death is inevitable, and I'm going to enjoy every single moment that I've got on this earth. Looking at it that way makes life a bit more precious.
At one point, your dad joked about your potential pregnancy announcement. Do you want children with your partner?
100 percent – we've had a serious chat about the future. I had an unrealistic expectation that I wanted five children, and he harshly brought me down to earth with a lecture about the economy. We've settled on two.
What about an engagement?
He says it‘s going to happen – he doesn’t want to be pressured. I did actually turn around and say, ‘2027, that’s your cut off point. If I’m not married by then, I'll walk away, because what’s the point?’ So 2026 is the engagement, and then a wedding. Obviously, this is just my expectation!
Has your dad ever not liked a partner?
Yes! He's always been very polite and made an effort, but after, he would be like, ‘I don't think he's for you,’ and that’s enough for me. He’s obsessed with my boyfriend now, though – they message all the time!
Episode one of GEORDIE STORIES: NATHAN AND DAD launched on the 3rd July with a new episode every week on MTV Shores YouTube Channel