Mary Portas makes tearful confession that her brother is her son's biological father

Mary Portas has opened up about one of the most personal decisions of her life, revealing that her brother is the biological father of her youngest son - and admitting it still leaves her emotional. The retail expert, 65, made the revelation while speaking to Jamie Laing on his Great Company podcast, where she discussed how her younger brother Lawrence became a sperm donor so she and her former partner Melanie Rickey could start a family. Mary explained that when Melanie raised the idea of having a child, she was clear about one thing.

She told the podcast: "So, Mel decided she wanted a child, and I was very clear that I wanted to have a bloodline." She added: "I wanted, if I was going to have another child, I wanted to make sure that it was related in some way and biologically related to my other kids." Mary is already mum to twins Mylo and Verity from her first marriage to Graham Portas. Wanting that biological link led to a deeply personal conversation with her brother, Lawrence.

Explaining why she turned to him, Mary said it came down to the bond they shared and the fact he had never wanted children himself. "He looked after me," she said. "It was a real symbiosis."

She recalled the moment he agreed to help, adding: "And Lawrence turned up to the old donor place and said, 'Done it, sis!'"

Their son Horatio was carried by Melanie and born in 2012. Mary joked that he strongly resembles her side of the family, adding light-heartedly: "Lawrence lives abroad now, but he rings us regularly and they talk about football. God, it's so boring!"

However, the conversation turned emotional when Mary described the first time Lawrence met Horatio. Fighting back tears, she said: "The most beautiful time is when, you know... he came into the world and I rang Lawrence and Lawrence turned up and picked him up."

She continued: "And it was like, it was his gift to me. God, I get emotional. It was his gift. And it was the greatest gift."

When Jamie asked why it meant so much, Mary explained: "Oh my God, you know, like because of the years that we helped each other. You know, I was always his big sis, and then he was able to give me this gift."

The revelation sparked strong reactions online, with some viewers questioning the arrangement. One wrote: "That is still quite a weird family setup. Is it his uncle or his dad?"

Another added: "I consider myself open minded but that is very strange."

Others were quick to defend Mary's choice. One supporter said: "I think it's beautiful that [she] and her brother have that relationship."

Another wrote: "In my community this is actually considered to be the most ethical way of having a donor conceived child."

Mary and Melanie separated after 17 years together and later sold their £5 million north London home. In a joint statement at the time, they insisted: "We remain a family, and are committed co-parents to three wonderful humans."