Couple have sex once a day for two weeks like Kate Garraway… now he wants to do it for a month
Londoners Marian, 48, and Dermot, 44, take on the 14-day sex challenge after 13 years of marriage
KATE GARRAWAY recently revealed she reignited the passion in her marriage by embarking on a two-week sex marathon.
The 49-year-old Good Morning Britain host’s husband Derek Draper, also 49, set up a spreadsheet to schedule sex around their hectic careers and two children.
The experiment was full of unwelcome interruptions, tangles with awkward underwear, laughter and tickles.
But most important of all, it was filled with love.
So we decided to challenge “comfortable” couple Marian and Dermot Keogh, who live in Edgware, North London, with daughter Aoife, eight, to match Kate’s sexy fortnight.
While sales rep Marian, 48, and builder Dermot, 44, used to make love daily when they got together 13 years ago, it’s now once a fortnight as they struggle to fit in couple time around daily life.
Here, Marian's diary reveals if they managed to rediscover their old spark.
I pounced on him before even taking my make-up off or brushing my teeth
Day 1
Not the best start. I was at a work do in the evening and didn’t get home until 1am.
After waking Dermot up because I forgot my key, I pounced on him before even taking my make-up off or brushing my teeth. Sexy, huh?
We always joke we have “porn sex” after a few drinks but this was short and sweet – from what I can remember.
Day 2
I woke up feeling groggy and couldn’t wait until bedtime.
I forced myself to stay up until 9pm and go to bed at the same time as Dermot.
Cuddles led to sex and afterwards we both drifted off.
It was the best night’s sleep I’d had in ages.
I woke up feeling quite refreshed.
Maybe sex is the best aid for sleeping soundly.
Day 3
I decided to get a leg and bikini wax today – you’ve got to look the part.
I had a spring in my step all day and when Dermot told me I looked nice, I got butterflies like in our dating days.
As soon as Aoife was in bed, we headed up to our room and got straight in to the action.
Dermot asked why we hadn’t tried this trial sooner.
By the time I got home I was exhausted... sex was the last thing on my mind
Day 4
After rushing around at work, I went straight to Aoife’s swimming lesson and by the time I got home, I was exhausted.
Sex was the last thing on my mind.
But Dermot had a glint in his eye and even helped make dinner.
When we went to bed, I had little energy but Dermot got me in the mood and we had a quickie.
Day 5
I felt like a teenager again as we greeted each other in the pub around 9.30pm with a knowing smile.
I’d been at a dance event with Aoife and Dermot had been out with friends.
We rushed home and put Aoife to bed.
After a clumsy fumble, I fell straight to sleep.
Who said that romance was dead?
Not only does the sex seem to be bringing us closer together, but I’ve lost weight too
Day 6
I woke up feeling frisky and hoped bedroom action would ease my hangover.
Aoife was asleep so we stole the moment. But before we got started, I heard footsteps and then, “Mummy”.
The plan was on hold. I spent the day baking while Dermot watched rugby.
I was shocked when he came home early – he was after one thing and I obliged.
Day 7
I felt on cloud nine as I prepared a roast dinner, which I put down to the daily endorphins rush I’ve been getting.
Usually Dermot and I only manage a peck on the cheek but we had a full-blown snog in the kitchen today.
It felt spontaneous and exciting.
Thankfully, Aoife didn’t spot us. She would cringe.
Tonight, sex was the best yet.
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Day 8
Not only does the sex seem to be bringing us closer together but I’ve lost weight too – I am 2lb lighter than a week ago. I also have bags more energy.
Today, Dermot fell asleep while I was putting Aoife to bed so I put on my best negligée and crept in to wake him up.
When he realised what was on the agenda we tiptoed into our room for sex.
I kept up my appetite by wearing a silky bra and knickers under my work clothes
Day 9
All I can think about is sex.
I felt fruity when I woke up but Dermot had an early start at work.
I kept up my appetite by wearing a silky bra and knickers under my work clothes and kept them on when I got home, rather than changing into my passion-killer pyjamas.
After dinner, we swapped cheeky glances until it was time for our next rendezvous.
Day 10
I went out for the evening with friends while Dermot stayed at home with Aoife.
I’d usually stay out late so Dermot thought he’d misheard when I said I was driving home.
When I walked in at 10.15pm he did a double-take.
After a catch-up over a glass of wine, we cuddled up and then marked another notch on our bedpost.
Day 11
I had to smile when I saw a cheeky text from Dermot at 10am.
Usually it’s “What’s for dinner?” but today he told me how much he enjoyed the night before.
We exchanged flirty messages for the rest of the day.
Later, Dermot told me he panicked when I didn’t initially reply – he thought he’d sexted my mother.
We giggled then got down to business.
As much as I have enjoyed our nightly sexercise, I was not in the mood tonight
Day 12
Aoife has a dance competition on Saturday which means we have to get up at 5am.
As much as I have enjoyed our nightly sexercise, I was not in the mood tonight.
By the time I had brushed my teeth, Dermot was playing on his phone.
But a challenge is a challenge and my lover managed to twist my arm when I got under the duvet.
Day 13
When I got home from the competition, I could have literally torn off Dermot’s clothes when I saw dinner was on the table.
But by the time we’d eaten and put Aoife to bed, we were too tired to talk.
We fell asleep on the sofa and woke up at 1.38am.
We got a second wind and did the deed, but I do not know how anyone has the energy to do this daily.
Day 14
I almost spat my tea out when Dermot said we should try a month-long sex marathon next time.
But despite being tiring, it has put the oomph back into our relationship.
When we went for a pub lunch, we held hands and Dermot pulled back a chair for me.
He was stuffed from dinner but I said, “There are no excuses,” and we completed the challenge.
The verdict
DERMOT SAYS: “As time went on, sex went from being at the bottom of the list of jobs we had to do, to something we both wanted.
"It got better and better.
"Mid-week sex used to be rare for us – it was too easy to reel off excuses not to bother.
"And it was a long time since we had sex two days in a row, never mind 14.
“I now fancy Marian more than ever.
"It’s also spurred me to help around the house, which she likes.”
MARIAN SAYS: “The past fortnight has made us realise how much we enjoy sex and how we need to make more time for it in our busy lives.
“We have slept better, we feel healthier and we are both glowing.
“I feel a lot more relaxed and Dermot commented on how much calmer I seemed.
"We are going to make sure we have sex more often, but every day might be pushing it.”