Gemma Collins finally feels 'complete' as she makes huge family announcement

Gemma Collins has opened up about her family background, revealing how her mum Joan Collins was a foster child - and now the former TOWIE star wants to become a foster carer too

Gemma Collins shared that she finally feels "complete" after announcing some big family news.

The star, famed for her time on The Only Way Is Essex, has revealed her hopes to become a foster carer. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, where she was joined by her mother Joan, Gemma said that fostering is close to her heart, noting her mum's own experience in foster care.

She stated during the interview: "There's a lot of love I can give. I always make a good dinner!" Joan, who was fostered from birth, spoke fondly of her own upbringing, considering herself "lucky".

This comes against the backdrop of a national alert by a fostering organisation pointing out the urgent need for 12,500 foster carers, with a 14% increase in the number of children needing homes compared to the previous year.

"There are so many rooms going spare across the UK," Gemma said, as she encouraged more individuals to step forward. She reminisced about reconnecting with her mother's cousin through Who Do You Think We Are, reports the Mirror.

Gemma added: "That is the wholesome values that so many people forget in today's society. Rushing around, this urgency culture," but expressed that finding her extended family has filled a void, making her feel "complete."

Her hope is that through fostering, she can provide similar support and stability to other young people in need.

Earlier in the year, Gemma expressed her wish to start a family with her fiancé Rami Hawash. Already playing a parental role to Rami's son from a previous relationship, she opened up about their future plans during a chat with The Mirror and OK!

Gemma said: "We're going to visit a fertility clinic soon to see if there's any complications and if I'm able to conceive. I'm nowhere near menopause yet so that will hopefully take the pressure off as I was panicking a bit."

"We're going to relax and put it into God's hands to see what happens. What's meant to be will be," Rami added, "Gemma is the absolute best stepmum to Tristan and we have a very busy house."

Describing their lively home, Gemma said it's often "chaos" but wouldn't change a thing. She shared: "It's chaos sometimes with all of us in it, we definitely need a bigger bed! But I don't think either of us imagined this would be our life when we first started dating."

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX