Mark Cassidy and his wife Carol McGiffin credit:Bang Showbiz

Carol McGiffin’s toyboy husband Mark Cassidy used to be mistaken for her son.

The couple met at a Loose Women wrap party in 2008 when he was 26, and Carol was 48, and now that Mark is 43, people can tell that he is her spouse.

Carol – who does not have children – told the new issue of Woman’s Own magazine: “It doesn’t happen very often anymore because Mark is in his 40s now, so he’s getting on a bit – he needs to be traded in [laughs].”

Months after they met, Mark popped the question, and he and the former Loose Women panellist were engaged for 10 years before they secretly tied the knot in a “low-key” ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, in February 2018.

Carol – who said “I do” without any of her and Mark’s loved ones present – cannot recall the vows because they were in Thai.

Giggling, she added: “I couldn’t understand what they were. I don’t know what we were saying.”

With their 10th wedding anniversary in two years, the couple has “no plans” to renew their vows.

However, Carol – who lives in France with Mark – shared that they “probably will do something special closer to the time”.

After being together for almost 20 years, Carol, 65, thinks their relationship gets stronger as time goes on.

The Celebrity Big Brother 2013 housemate added: “We do something special every other weekend – not just on our anniversaries.”

Carol previously hit back at critics who have commented on the age gap between her and Mark.

She said their relationship is proof that a big age gap can work.

Writing in her Best magazine column in 2017, she said: “Some people will never get their heads around the idea that an older woman can make it work with a younger man.

“It can work – I’m living proof of that, as Mark and I are coming up to nine years together, and we’re stronger than ever.

“Anyone who doesn’t like the idea should shut their mouth, because it’s not your life, it’s ours. We’re the only ones who need to worry about our ages.”

Carol was previously married to Virgin Radio DJ Chris Evans, 59, from 1991 until 1998.