... was famously the daughter of actor Anthony Booth – best known for playing Alf Garnett's son–in–law Mike (the "randy Scouse git") in Till Death Us Do Part. Cherie's mother was Gale Howard – also an actor; she met Booth when they acted together in a play entitled The Princess and the Swineherd. There seems to be little further record of Gale Howard's career; more than likely she was forced to give up acting after Booth left her with two young children, when Cherie was eight years old – if not before.
Although Cherie's birth was registered under that name, she was christened Theresa Cara after her maternal grandmother insisted that (according to orthodox Catholic practice) she be named after a saint.
She met Tony Blair when they were both practising as barristers. Their shared Christian faith (she was a Catholic, he an Anglican) was instrumental in bringing them together.
© Haydn Thompson 2024