A COUNTY Durham transgender woman and her family appeared on Jeremy Kyle last week to tell the world how her transitioning brought them closer together.

Last November, The Northern Echo reported on the story of the Bosanquets, who opened their hearts to promote better support and understanding for transgender people and their families.

Stephanie and Fiona Bosanquet - from Middleton-in-Teesdale – married more than 28 years ago but it was not until their youngest son was born around 18 years ago that Stephanie, then Stephen, told her family she was transgender.

The family’s experiences in coming to terms with the revelation inspired national headlines and saw them invited to appear on an episode of ITV’s Jeremy Kyle show, aired last week.

While children Abigail, Amy, Angela and Jack were quick to accept Stephanie’s identity, her wife Fiona initially struggled to accept the significant upheaval it brought to their lengthy relationship.

Fiona Bosanquet has since established a support group for partners of transgender people and used her time on Jeremy Kyle to promote the cause.

She said: “After the article was published in the Echo, we were approached by news agencies and magazines before the Jeremy Kyle production team asked us if we wanted to appear.

“It took a lot of persuasion but we eventually said yes because we wanted people to know there is support out there.

“It is incredibly hard to find support for people who are married to trans people but it can be found.

“We wanted to show that life can go on – it’s not always going to be easy but it does go on.”

Mrs Bosanquet said the Jeremy Kyle experience had been a positive one, adding: “We didn’t get to meet Jeremy until a few minutes before we went on stage but his production team couldn’t do enough for us.

“It was scary but quite exciting and Jeremy was very good with us – I was apprehensive thinking they would make us look bad but I think we came across quite well.

“If it got the story out there and showed other people that they can go on and stay together as a family or stay friends, it was worthwhile.

“We have been married 29 years and it would be a lot to give up – we have become closer as a family and as friends since, we’re not unhappy at all and we’re much more open.”

Mrs Bosanquet’s support group for partners of transgender people can be accessed via the SOFFA Trans page on Facebook.

Mrs Bosanquet said: “I want people to know there is someone out there to talk to, you don’t have to sit on your own and worry.”