I’d been waiting for years to get a ring on my finger and, with the help of two celebs, I hatched a plan. By Kirsty Froud, 39
The barbecue was in full swing when the front door opened and my heart went thud.
Standing there was the man I’d had a secret crush on for years – my friend’s brother Luke.
I’d always hoped that something might happen between us but life kept getting in the way.
But that night we chatted for hours. It was like we were the only people there.
Just as I’d plucked up the courage to ask him out, he announced he was moving to Japan.
I was devastated.
Then, several months later, I was out with friends for my birthday when I spotted Luke, back home and handsome as ever.
And I wasn’t about to let the moment pass me by again.
‘Now’s your chance!’ my friends said, as Luke gave me a little wave.
I didn’t need telling twice!
‘It’s so good to see you,’ I told him. ‘How was Japan?’
We chatted all evening and then, finally, Luke said, ‘Would you like to go out sometime, Kirsty?’
Would I ever!
One date led to another and another and Luke and I became a couple.
Eight years on, we were living together and I couldn’t have felt happier.
But still one thing was missing.
‘When do you think we’ll get married?’ I’d ask him, trying to drop a hint about the lack of an engagement ring
on my finger.
But all Luke would say was, ‘One day, I’m sure.’
It wasn’t really the answer I was after, but then one evening I was watching
The Graham Norton Show and one of his guests started talking about leap year proposals – where a woman proposed to a man – and an idea struck.
Maybe I could do that.
With 29 February coming around in a few months’ time, I got my thinking cap on, and I was thrilled when Luke told me he had booked us a week away in the Cotswolds.
It was perfect.
I thought, I’ll cook Luke a nice dinner and then I’ll get down on one knee.
I even bought a ring.
'Are you serious?'
Then I remembered that Heart Radio was doing a leap year proposal feature on its breakfast show.
I applied to be part of it and a producer rang me.
With their help,
I came up with a new plan to propose to Luke on Tower Bridge in London, so that afterwards we could appear on the breakfast show with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston.
All I needed was to convince Luke that we needed to make a detour to London in the middle of our Cotswolds trip.
I came up with a story about taking part in a Mr and Mrs competition on
the radio. With the prospect of a luxury foreign holiday as a prize, Luke was soon
on board.
In the lead-up, producers even rang Luke to ask
him questions for the fake Mr and Mrs competition
and Luke spent hours quizzing me.
Somehow I managed to keep up the charade and, when the big day arrived,
I slotted the ring box into my pocket and took a
deep breath.
I felt confident that Luke would say yes, but still I was nervous.
At Tower Bridge, Luke and I took in the incredible views over London.
Then I dropped to one knee.
‘Luke Nicholson, I love you. Will you marry me?’
I asked.
Luke gawped at me, his face a picture of shock.
‘Are you serious?’ he gasped.
‘Yes!’ I squealed.
‘In that case,’ he said,
‘I will!’
We were both over the moon.
Afterwards, we went
on the radio and were interviewed by Amanda
and Jamie.
It was brilliant.
We’ve decided we’re going to wait for the next leap year in 2028 to get married on 29 February and, who knows, maybe we’ll invite Amanda and Jamie!