Tony Drewitt-Barlow and husband Barrie made history in the late 90s when they became the first gay men in the UK to father children through surrogacy
One of Britain’s first gay fathers has been diagnosed with throat cancer and has just 18 months to live, his heartbroken ‘ultimate daddies’ girl’ daughter has revealed.
Tony Drewitt-Barlow and husband Barrie made history in the late 90s when they became the first gay men in the UK to father children through surrogacy.
Their twins, Saffron and Aspen, are the first children to be registered as having two fathers and no mother.
The couple also have son Orlando, 13, and twin boys Jasper and Dallas, six.
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The businessmen first hit the headlines in the late 90s when they became the first gay men in the UK to father children through surrogacy
Saffron and her twin brother, Aspen, are the first children to be registered as having two dads and no mum.
Daughter Saffron, who made headlines herself for her £1million wardrobe and £5,000-a-month in pocket money, shared the heartbreaking news on Thursday.
Tony – who she calls Dad – is suffering from aggressive throat cancer and is waiting for an operation in Florida, where the family live half of the year.
Barrie and Tony Drewitt-Barlow with their brood.
Barrie and Tony with Aspen and Saffron in 2015.
She told the Sun Online: “Dad’s really sick. He had cancer 10 years ago and had chemo but now it has come back. Now the whole side of his face is gone.
“They’ve given him 18 months to live if he doesn’t have the operation. If he has the op, there’s a 50/50 chance he’ll live. We’re all devastated.”
Saffron and Barrie, who she calls Daddy.
Barrie – who Saffron calls Daddy – added: “I don’t want to lose him. I don’t want to be a single parent. We’re praying that it goes well.”
Tony and Barrie grew up on Manchester council estates, but now have a combined wealth of £40 million and spread their time between a £5 million water-front Florida property and a sprawling Essex mansion.
Barrie, left, fears being a single father.
The family hit the headlines last year for Saffron and Aspen’s lavish 18th birthday celebrations.
Their parents flew the twins and a group of their American friends to England so that they could all drink champagne — something they couldn’t do in Florida, where the legal drinking age is 21.
Saffron was given a brand new white Range Rover, while Aspen got a black one.
