Spencer Matthews reveals working-class roots & why being an addict isn’t always bad as he becomes a van driver for a day

GIVEN his posh accent, Eton-education, and links to Pippa Middleton, you’d be forgiven for not realising Spencer Matthews actually has working class roots. 

The fitness fanatic, 36, has grown up in the lap of luxury, but before making millions with hotels, his father David had much humbler beginnings as a used car salesman. 

Spencer has taken up doing endurance challenges across the world Pr SuppliedHe has revealled his dad used to be a used car salesman before making millions[/caption] Instagram/spencermatthewsHe claims he has no interest in dying, especially now that he has children to come home to[/caption]

In an exclusive chat with The Sun for a Mercedes-Benz campaign, Spencer said: “My dad was a used car salesman and big into racing, but not at Formula 3 level or anything like that. In fact, he nearly died before I was born in a racing accident.

“He punctured his lung, he broke all his ribs. He was in hospital for a very long time after that.”

Thankfully for Spencer, David survived and went on to found Eden Rock Hotels – leading the kids to grow up in Barbados.

It meant that Spencer’s hopes to be a racing driver were crushed, as there was nowhere to practise – outside of driving the hotel’s transfer van to and from the small airport. 

“I’d have loved to have been a racing driver but I’ll never really know if I had any talent thanks to the move,” he lamented.

“We moved there when I was six, so I never had a chance to find out if I had any early talent as there’s no go karting there. Although I’ve always thought I was pretty handy at it.”

Instead of making headlines for racing prowess, the dad-of-three has instead seen himself branded a Lothario in Made In Chelsea thanks to his womanising ways before settling down with Irish model Vogue Williams, 39, after leaving the show. 

She has stuck with him through his battles with alcohol addiction, and now spends time waiting at the finish line as he completes his endurance marathons – which he admits are his latest addiction. 

Losing control

Spencer does occasionally drink, but considers himself an alcoholic because he lost control of his drinking after appearing on Made In Chelsea.

“I find that people’s definition of what is an alcoholic, it’s a personal thing, in my opinion.

“So I have described myself as an alcoholic because I lost control of my drinking.

“I would drink very regularly, sometimes early in the day. I would lie about it, you know, I didn’t have full control over it, and it was beginning to affect people around me. I think that is, I think that’s, that’s, that’s clearly problematic.

“My relationship with alcohol is completely different now. Now, it doesn’t really cross my mind.

“I’m aware that when I go away on holidays and stuff, that I might have a drink or two, but it doesn’t sit on my back in this dark way like it used to.”

New addiction

SuppliedSpencer admits his new challenges have become an addiction to him[/caption] GettySpencer has been married to Vogue since 2018[/caption]

Despite his difficult relationship with booze, Spencer thinks his addictive personality can be useful in certain circumstances, and he doesn’t view addiction as being a bad thing.

“To me, being addicted to something is very similar to loving something,” he said. 

“I obviously have an addictive character. I had a many years of abusing alcohol, it’s all part of my journey. It’s kind of, it’s got me to where I am today. 

“I am kind of addicted to my family, my health, my wellbeing.

“I think [my challenges] are probably an addiction. But I certainly don’t see the word addiction as negative. 

“If you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, that’s very likely to have a negative impact on your life and those around you. 

“But if you’re addicted to your work even, or you know your family or health or your fitness, I don’t really see that as being problematic.”

Spencer broke a world record last year when he ran 30 marathons in 30 days.

This year, Spencer will attempt to do triathlons on each continent, filming the bid for new series Seven In Seven.

But he’s vowed to not take any unnecessary risks as he wants to return home to his wife and children, Theodore, six, Gigi, four, and Otto, two, safe and sound.

He said: “When I do the challenges, I surround myself with a good, solid, professional team. We crush out about as much risk as we can, prior to attempting these things. 

“As Alex Honnold said in the first episode of Untapped [Spencer’s podcast], ‘I wasn’t that interested in dying before having kids, and now that I have kids, I’m still not that interested in dying’. 

“I have similar thoughts to that. So if we can limit the risk, we will. 

“Really good preparation is the antithesis of jeopardy.”

Despite pushing his body to the limits with his fitness, spending a day as a van man for Mercedes-Benz wasn’t an easy task. 

He spent the day stacking boxings and pumping up tyres, being put to the test against real-life van drivers. 

At the end of the tasks, he said: “I think the level of focus required to be a delivery driver is really something. Hats off to them, it’s definitely much tougher than it looks.”

Spencer has partnered with Mercedes-Benz Vans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their Sprinter, the most enduring and reliable van on the market, which has kept businesses moving for three decades. Pr SuppliedSpencer admits that he wouldn’t be able to do the job of a devliery driver[/caption]