Sara Cox has revealed that a Ukrainian refugee and her newborn baby lived with her at her home, and she was even there for the birth.
The Radio 2 host, 49, explained that she had opened her doors to the pregnant woman for six months, gushing that she was ‘part of the family now’.
After Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have fled the country to escape the brutal onslaught.
And among the Britons who have welcomed them to stay in their homes are a number of high profile figures, from TV stars, to Hollywood actors, to politicians.
In an interview with The Times last week, Sara revealed she had also hosted a Ukrainian guest, growing so close to her that she was present when she gave birth.
Sara Cox has revealed that a Ukrainian refugee and her newborn baby lived with her at her home, and she was even there for the birth (pictured in 2022)
The Radio 2 host, 49, explained that she had opened her doors to the pregnant woman for six months, gushing that she was ‘part of the family now’ (pictured in November)
Speaking about her current house, the broadcaster – who has three teenage children, Lola, 19, Isaac, 16, and Renee, 14, – said it had been newly decorated, explaining: ‘The front room was in flux for a few years.
‘We had a Ukrainian guest sleeping in there for six months. She had a baby recently. She’s part of the family now.
‘I was at the birth and she came back here with her newborn, so this room has been very much a private area for this mum and baby. When she left it needed to be rebirthed itself and begin its story again.’
Other famous faces who have hosted those fleeing Ukraine include TV presenters Chris Tarrant and Rachel Riley, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, singer Rod Stewart and Tory MPs Matt Hancock and Grant Shapps.
In February, Chris told MailOnline that he still sees the family who stayed with him ‘a lot’ even after they moved into a new flat he bought for them.
He said: ‘There are three of them: a grandmother, a mum and her baby daughter – the father was already in the Ukrainian Army and remained behind to serve his country.
‘They came to live with us when the baby was just seven months old! They’d had a terrifying journey getting out of Ukraine and all three had been sleeping on airport floors in Poland and elsewhere.
‘I’ve moved them into a nice flat that I got for them about 18 months ago. Although we’ve got a large house with plenty of room, it’s very rural and a bit cut off.
Other famous faces who have hosted those fleeing Ukraine include Chris Tarrant who told MailOnline in February that he still sees the family who stayed with him ‘a lot’ even after they moved into a new flat he bought for them (pictured with partner Jane Bird in 2013)
Countdown star Rachel Riley gushed that it is ‘so rewarding’ hosting four Ukrainian refugees and said her two daughters ‘absolutely love’ living with the little boy (pictured with husband Pasha in 2016)
‘So now they are close to shops, cafes, etc, as well as to other Ukrainian refugees. They have found jobs and of course it’s close to a baby club.’
The former Who Once To Be A Millionaire? host said he and his partner, Jane Bird, are still in touch with the family.
Chris said: ‘We see them a lot and they came to spend Christmas with us – the husband is still fighting in the Donbas but we communicate with him regularly.
‘That side of things is always going to be scary, but they try so hard to be positive that he will survive, that the war will end and that they will all be together again. They have truly enhanced our lives.’
Countdown star Rachel has gushed that it is ‘so rewarding’ hosting four Ukrainian refugees and told how the family – which included mother Sasha Borysenko, her son Mykyta, eight, grandmother Luba and aunt Gayla – had no idea she was famous and had to look her up on YouTube.
She added that her two daughters, who she shares with husband Pasha Kovalev, ‘absolutely love’ living with Mykyta, who they treat as an extra brother.
She told BBC Breakfast: ‘It is so rewarding and it’s working for us. Our little girls absolutely love having this little boy, it’s like they’ve got an extra brother and he’s got little sisters that he looks after.
‘He’s like an extension of his mother and auntie looking after them. He’s had to grow up before his years, he’s just turned eight years old. He’s really a young little man because it’s been forced upon him.
Strictly star Motsi Mabuse ‘s husband Evgenij Vozynuk is Ukrainian, and his parents have come to live with them in Germany as well as several refugees (pictured together)
Newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky had a family move in with her after arriving in the UK with just one small suitcase, hosting a father who is partially blind, a mother, a 12-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl (pictured in March)
‘But it’s just a brilliant thing to be able to do and we’re just getting on like one big family.’
In February this year, her representatives confirmed to MailOnline that the family were still living with her.
Strictly star Motsi Mabuse‘s husband Evgenij Vozynuk is Ukrainian, and his parents have come to live with them in Germany as well as several refugees.
She previously said: ‘Now we have about 10 people living with us – our family and refugees. Now that my husband’s parents have moved to us, our life has become different, perhaps forever.’
Newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky had a family move in with her after arriving in the UK with just one small suitcase, hosting a father who is partially blind, a mother, a 12-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl.
Her father was a refugee from South Africa, and Natasha explained: ‘I immediately registered to provide a home for a Ukrainian family. I come from a family of refugees, and I was very lucky, so I felt it was my responsibility’.
Actor Benedict has been vocal about supporting Ukraine and announced he had signed up for the Homes For Ukraine scheme in 2022.
In April that year, he revealed a family would be coming to stay with him after first receiving medical treatment, but has remained tight-lipped to maintain their privacy.
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch has been vocal about supporting Ukraine and announced he had signed up for the Homes For Ukraine scheme in 2022 (pictured with wife Sophie Hunter in 2021)
Singer Rod Stewart has been paying the rent and bills for Ukrainian couple Rostylsav and Olena and their five children, calling them ‘lovely… so polite’ and ‘all very grateful’ (pictured last month)
He told Sky News: ‘They’ve made it out of Ukraine, I’m monitoring their progress every day.
‘Sadly, they are undergoing some medical treatment – to say anything more about that would be invasion of their privacy, and too much about when they’re coming and how that’s being managed would invade mine – but I want to give them some stability after the turmoil that they’ve experienced, and that’s within my home.’
Singer Rod Stewart has been paying the rent and bills for Ukrainian couple Rostylsav and Olena and their five children, calling them ‘lovely… so polite’ and ‘all very grateful’.
In October 2022, he told The Mirror: ‘It just makes me want to do more. I am thinking of getting another house now and getting a lot more people over.’
While Matt and his partner Gina Coladangelo welcomed a family of seven Ukrainian refugees to his Suffolk home over Easter 2022, before they moved out last year having found jobs and a home.
The former Health Secretary told MailOnline: ‘Hosting three generations from one family, who had escaped the war with little more than the clothes on their backs, was a truly humbling experience – and something I will never forget.
‘Initially there was a language barrier but it didn’t really matter – we got on extremely well. I quickly developed a taste for Ukrainian food – especially borscht – and, before too long, picked up the basics of the language.’
Former Defence Secretary Grant welcomed a seven-year-old child, his mother, grandmother and dog to the home he shares with his therapist wife, Belinda, and three children, Hadley, Tabytha and Noa.
While Matt and his partner Gina Coladangelo welcomed a family of seven Ukrainian refugees to his Suffolk home over Easter 2022, before they moved out last year having found jobs and a home (pictured)
Former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps filmed himself welcoming welcomed a seven-year-old child, his mother, grandmother and dog into his home in 2022
He told MailOnline in February that the family have moved to their own home but are ‘still considered very much part of the Shapps clan’ (pictured with his wife Belinda and their three children)
The family had posted on social media asking about the Homes for Ukraine scheme which was reportedly picked up by the Tory MP’s daughter.
He previously told how his teenage son Hadley was originally concerned about the family moving in but found they ‘fit in very well’.
He told MailOnline in February that the family have moved to their own home but are ‘still considered very much part of the Shapps clan’.
Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick is believed to be the first MP to have taken in Ukrainian refugees, welcoming Maria, 40, Christina, 11, and Boden, 15, into his Nottinghamshire home.
He described feeling ‘very emotional’ when he finally met the family at Stansted.
‘I think the family we are sponsoring were happy to be in a place of safety,’ he told the BBC. ‘Like most Ukrainians who come under the scheme they are leaving behind husbands, fathers, relatives and friends so there are mixed emotions.’
And former Prime Minister David Cameron revealed in December last year that he and his wife Samantha had hosted a Ukrainian family, and hailed the growing cultural links between both countries. The family has now moved out, MailOnline understands.
And former Prime Minister David Cameron revealed in December last year that he and his wife Samantha had hosted a Ukrainian family, and hailed the growing cultural links between both countries (pictured in 2018)