The octogenarian who married an Egyptian toyboy 45 years her junior is devastated they will have to spend Christmas apart.
But one good thing has come out of Iris Jones’ heartache – she will get to enjoy the festive season with her sons.
Iris, 81, became the talk of the nation when the Sunday Mirror revealed details of her explosive sex life with Mohamed Ahmed, 36.
She went on to stun Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on ITV’s This Morning by recalling how Mohamed left her “saddle sore” after a recent holiday.
But speaking so openly about her love life ruined the relationship she had with her sons Stephen, 54, and Darren, 53.
Stephen has previously said it “caused a lot of friction” in the family – but they have now put their differences aside so Iris didn’t have to spend Christmas Day alone.
Iris, who married Mohamed last month, said: “My boys are now accepting of the fact that this is genuine. We genuinely love one another.
“I will be spending Christmas with Stephen, his wife and my step-children. But I will still be wearing a mask and not touching any surfaces. I don’t want to be on my own.”
Iris, who has been divorced for 40 years, started chatting to Mohamed on Facebook last summer.
They met for the first time in November 2019 and have been together ever since – but Mohamed has so far failed to secure the necessary paperwork to move to the UK.
Iris did not speak to her new love on Christmas Day “because he is a Muslim and he doesn’t celebrate it”.
But she revealed the pair talk every day and admitted she is still taken aback by her feelings for Mohamed.
Iris said: “I didn’t think this would happen at my age – falling so deeply in love with someone half my age – but you can’t help who you fall in love with.
“Age is of no relevance whatsoever. I go from being so happy when we’re together to the absolute depths of misery when we’re apart.”
Iris and Mohamed’s Cairo wedding was very low-key.
Instead of opting for a traditional ceremony, they just signed the papers to make things official then celebrated with fried chicken at the local KFC.
But since her return to the UK on December 11, Iris has been missing Mohamed terribly.
“It’s very, very, very difficult,” she said. “I lived with him for three months in Egypt. But I can’t go over there again – the heat is not good for my health.
“I have told Mohamed he has to come here to see me but if he is not granted a visa, I don’t know what’s going to happen. He wants to come over here to look after me.”
Iris, who lives in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, can’t wait to start a new life with Mohamed.
She said: “I want to sell my little bungalow and for Mohamed to get his visa, and then we can move to Bristol or Birmingham where he could get a damn good job. All I want is for us to be together.”
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