‘Children's view of marriage shaped by celeb bust-ups’

Children are growing up thinking that marriages are not meant to last because so many football and pop stars have high profile affairs and bust-ups, an expert warned on Wednesday.

Alleged infidelities by England internationals like Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Ashley Cole all hit the headlines in 2010 and received acres of prominent coverage in newspapers. Reg Bailey, who is leading a government review of the sexualisation of childhood, is expected to consider the issue in a report he is preparing for the department for education.

Bailey, chief executive of the Mothers’ Union charity, told the Daily Telegraph that sportsmen and women had a clear influence on children’s behaviour and ideas of what was acceptable.

“I think there is a fair body of evidence out there that suggests that children are very influenced by certain individuals, particularly those in the public eye, a great deal, whether they be pop stars or sports people,” he said. “The sexualisation of children is clearly a concern. Many people simply associate that with girls. I don’t think it is. It impacts both boys and girls and the review will take account of that.”