The TV presenter has opened up about her friendship with former Strictly Come Dancing partner James Jordan.
TV presenter Vanessa Feltz has opened up about the surprising bond she shares with her former Strictly Come Dancing partner, James Jordan, revealing how much she has learned from him despite their 16-year age gap.
The pair have remained close since their time on the dancing show, proving that cross-generational friendships can bring fresh perspectives, shared laughs, and genuine mutual growth.
Research commissioned by AXA UK found that six in 10 (60%) have friends from other generations, while 75% of people said they will always make time to have a chat with those older than themselves and benefit from their experiences.
The insurer joined forces with Vanessa Feltz and her former Strictly partner James Jordan to showcase the beneficial impact of cross-generational friendships.
Vanessa said: “Some of the most rewarding friendships are the ones that span generations because they bring together different perspectives, experiences and ways of looking at the world.
“Whether you’re sharing stories over a coffee, tackling a challenge together or simply catching up on life, those shared experiences have a way of bringing people closer, regardless of age.
“I’ve certainly learnt a lot from James over the years, and I’d like to think he’s learnt a thing or two from me as well.
“It’s easy to stay within our own age groups, but when we make connections with people from different generations, we open ourselves up to new ideas, fresh outlooks and friendships that can genuinely enrich our lives.”
The study found that 35% rarely, or never, spend time socially with people who are 15 years younger or older than themselves.
However, gaining new perspectives (42%), exchanging skills and knowledge (39%) and developing a more open-minded outlook (27%) were identified as the greatest advantages by those who do.
Almost half (49%) said they get more out of activities when they involve people from different age groups.
Beyond work (34%) and family occasions (33%), Brits are most likely to spend time with people from other generations at sporting fixtures (15%) and in the pub (14%).
Music also emerged as a popular choice, with 46% of those surveyed agreeing it’s something that has traditionally brought people of all ages together.
When it comes to working alongside people from different generations, 34% said having different perspectives was the greatest advantage, while 32% pointed to knowledge sharing.
Over a third (36%) said the government ought to prioritise expanding opportunities for workplace training and skills development to better support different generations.
A significant 80% of those surveyed said that better sharing of skills, knowledge and experience between employees of different age groups could increase productivity and stimulate economic growth.
Tara Foley, CEO of AXA UK & Ireland, which created ‘the generational dividend report’, said: “Every generation has something valuable to offer.
“Bringing people of different ages together strengthens not only families, but our workplaces and communities too. It creates opportunities for experience and fresh thinking to meet, and for all of us to learn from one another.
“At a time when the UK is looking for new ways to grow and adapt, that is an opportunity we should embrace.
“We see the value of this every day. Our colleagues bring different experiences, perspectives and insights, helping us understand and serve our customers better.
“When people of all ages feel valued and able to contribute, we build stronger teams, generate better ideas and create a more inclusive society that is ready for the future.”
THE TOP 10 MOST COMMON GROUNDS BETWEEN GENERATIONS:
- Family events.
- Sport.
- Food.
- Music.
- Hobbies.
- Relationships.
- Travel.
- Films/TV.
- Work.
- Social media.
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