John Prescott is a Labour politician who acted as the deputy prime minister for 10 years from 1997 to 2007 under Tony Blair. The Welshman has been married to his wife Pauline since 1961. The couple has two children together: businessman Jonathan Prescott and Labour Party employee David Prescott.
Who is John Prescott?
John Prescott, 81, is a British politician who represented Hull East as the Labour member of parliament from 1970 to 2010.
In the 1994 leadership election, he stood for both leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party, winning election to the latter office.
He was appointed deputy prime minister after Labour’s victory in the 1997 election, with an expanded brief as Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
Before he launched his career in politics Mr Prescott was a ship’s steward and trade union activist.
In June 2007 he resigned as deputy Prime Minister, coinciding with Blair’s resignation as Prime Minister and was later replaced by Harriet Harman.
He retired at the 2010 election and entered the House of Lords as a life peer with the title Baron Prescott, of Kingston upon Hull in the County of East Yorkshire that same year.
In 2015, it was announced that Mr Prescott would return to politics as a special adviser to then-Labour leader, Ed Miliband.
Now, he will appear on Celebrity Go Barging tonight.
Who is Pauline Prescott?
Pauline Prescott is John’s wife of 58 years.
She is also an author who wrote an autobiography called Smile Through Your Heart is Breaking.
Within the book, Pauline revealed she had had a son by an American airman prior to meeting John.
She also discussed the aftermath of a very well-publicised affair between Mr Prescott and his secretary between 2002 and 2004.
In her autobiography Mrs Prescott said she was still not able to forgive husband for the revelations about his fling with Tracey Temple, after 45 years of marriage.
Writing about whether she has yet forgiven her husband, she said she had not, “because to forgive is to condone”.
She added that the “betrayal cut me like a knife”.
She wrote: “John looked terrible, his skin was grey. ‘I’ve had an affair’ he said. ‘I’m so sorry Pauline. You don’t deserve this’.”
Celebrity Go Barging is on at 9pm tonight on Channel 5.