One of the most common worries we hear from people thinking about dating again is "Surely I am too old for all that?" The answer, happily, is no. Some of the best-known love stories of recent years began long after the first flush of youth. Here are six of our favourites.
Prue Leith: married at 76
The Great British Bake Off judge was widowed in 2002 when her first husband, Rayne Kruger, died. She has said she did not expect to fall for anyone again. Then, at a dinner party in 2011, she met John Playfair, a retired fashion designer. They married in Scotland in 2016, when Prue was 76 and John was 70.
The lesson: say yes to the dinner party invitation. You never know who will be sitting across the table.
Dame Judi Dench: found love again in her 70s
Dame Judi lost her husband, the actor Michael Williams, in 2001. In 2010 she was invited to open a new squirrel enclosure at the British Wildlife Centre, which was founded by conservationist David Mills. The two hit it off, and they have been together ever since.
They have chosen not to marry and live in separate homes a few miles apart, which they say suits them perfectly. Dame Judi has said she dislikes the word "partner" and prefers to call him her "chap".
The lesson: a later-life relationship does not have to follow anyone else's rules. Living apart together is a perfectly happy arrangement for many couples.
Dame Joan Collins: married at 68
The Dynasty star met Percy Gibson, a theatre producer, in 2000 while she was touring the United States. He was 36 and she was 67. They married at Claridge's in London in 2002 and celebrated 24 years of marriage this year.
Joan has never let the 32-year age gap bother her. "I refuse to be defined by a number," she has said.
The lesson: age really can be just a number, if you let it.
Sir Paul McCartney: married at 69
The former Beatle married Nancy Shevell, an American businesswoman, at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London in October 2011, after four years together. It was the same register office where he had married his first wife, Linda, in 1969. Paul was 69 on the day.
The lesson: a new chapter does not erase the old ones. Many people who find love later in life carry happy memories of earlier relationships with them.
Harrison Ford: married at 67
The Indiana Jones star married actress Calista Flockhart in June 2010, at the age of 67, after the couple had been together for around eight years. The small ceremony took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The lesson: there is no rush. Some couples take their time, and that is fine.
Dame Helen Mirren: married at 52
Helen Mirren met the film director Taylor Hackford in 1985 while making the film White Nights. She has said she chose her work over relationships for years, and the pair took 12 years to tie the knot, marrying in Scotland at the end of 1997 when she was 52.
She has joked that marriage, like turnips, was an acquired taste. Nearly three decades on, they are still together.
The lesson: it is never too late to change your mind about love.
Your turn?
You do not need to be a household name to find love later in life. Every day, ordinary people over 50 meet someone new through friends, clubs, holidays and, increasingly, dating sites. If these stories have given you a little nudge, why not see who is out there? Our guide to senior dating in the UK is a good place to start, and our dating safety tips will help you do it with confidence.
Sources
IBTimes UK, Who is Prue Leith's husband?, August 2026. HELLO!, Judi Dench's private life with partner David Mills, 2026. South China Morning Post, Who is Joan Collins' husband Percy Gibson?. DNAinfo, Paul McCartney marries Nancy Shevell, October 2011. The Scotsman, Harrison Ford marries at 67, June 2010. HELLO!, Inside Helen Mirren's private life.
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About the author: Ernie S writes news, views and lighter pieces for Wise Owl Dating, the UK dating site for the over 50s and part of the Cafe Dating Collection.