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real life

love it! 63

He’s not exactly tall, dark and handsome,

but what Katie Royal’s husband lacks in

height, he makes up for in passion…

Glugging down my fourth white wine, I forced a smile. ‘It’s for the best,’ I told my friend, Susan.

‘We just grew apart. There’s no point forcing things, is there?’

My next drink was already lined up by the time I’d finished the sentence. I wanted to forget, but it would take more than a few Chardonnays.

Five years in a relationship is a long time – and now, at 24, I was on the shelf.

I didn’t know what had gone wrong with Barry and me. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. We just didn’t have anything in common any more.

But the split was still raw. ‘I won’t rush into anything

new,’ I slurred. ‘The next man has to be the one.’

I’d hold out for Mr Right. Tall, dark, handsome – oh and rich, funny and totally in love with me.

‘You’re not asking for much,’

Susan joked. But why shouldn’t I be fussy? I deserved the best.

I worked as an usherette at Belfast’s Grand Opera House, and got to see plenty of good-looking blokes.

But the men I met were either too arrogant, too stupid, too selfish or too in love with themselves – or someone else.

‘I’ll wait,’ I told myself.

Instant attractionSnow White was on at the Opera House, and I made friends with one of the dwarves, Phil Searle, who played Doc.

We’d first got chatting in the canteen, and hit it off instantly. And that was before I found out he was famous. Phil had played a goblin in Labyrinth and starred with Tom Cruise in Legend.

‘My ambition is to be in Coronation Street,’ he said.

Phil, now 40, was so animated and full of life. He was half my size, but the more we talked, the less I noticed his height.

I began to look forward to

seeing him, and made sure I always bumped into him in the canteen.

All the blokes I’d gone for in the past had towered above me. I was 5ft 8in in my socks. Phil was a tiny 4ft 7in, and his head barely reached my chest.

His costume didn’t do him any favours either – it was a fetching green-and-red number.

But I found him so sexy, with his twinkly eyes and cheeky smile.

Some women would have run a mile rather than fancy a dwarf, but there was something about Phil that was different, special.

Even though I’d only known him for three weeks, he made my knees go weak. I needed to know if he felt the same.

As he raced out of the dressing room one night, I flashed him a sexy smile. ‘Hi Phil,’ I said.

‘Oh, hello Katie,’ he replied. ‘See you tomorrow.’ His gruff, Geordie voice made me melt. I stared after him wistfully.

Why didn’t he fancy me?Then, three weeks later, he

finally asked me out for dinner. ‘Just as friends,’ he added.‘Of course,’ I said, although

I was disappointed.But the next day, he sent a

text – ‘Fancy making tonight a proper date?’

Falling into step At work, I couldn’t concentrate, I was so excited.

At 7pm, I sneaked off to the loos to get changed, slipping on a tight black skirt and low-cut blouse. After applying a slick of lippy, I was ready.

We went for a Chinese. If we got any funny looks, I didn’t notice. I was too wrapped up in Phil, chatting and flirting all night.

Outside, when I leaned down to kiss him, I was breathless.

We easily slipped into being a couple, determined to have fun before Phil had to go home to Durham when the panto ended.

We went out for meals and walks. At first, my long legs meant I raced ahead,

but we soon fell into step.To me, his height wasn’t

an issue, he was just funny, sexy Phil – the first man who’d made me feel special and wanted.

But not everyone can accept people for

what they are. Once, when we were shopping,

I noticed people whispering. ‘Look at that little man,

Mum,’ a boy said, pointing.I was furious – and

embarrassed for Phil. ‘How can you be so calm

about it?’ I asked.‘It’s their problem, not mine,’ he said, taking my hand.

I felt a rush of pride. Phil had more

confidence than a man twice his size.

He could handle the comments, so what was I complaining about?

Making loveWhen the panto ended, Phil flew home. But I missed him, and after just a week, I called him. ‘Fancy

coming over?’ I said.‘I’ll fly tomorrow,’ Phil replied.That weekend, we made love

for the first time. People assume dwarfs are

small everywhere, but Phil definitely isn’t lacking in that department! Dwarfism only affects the arms and legs, so otherwise, he’s like any man – in fact, he’s better.

Our relationship is as passionate as any couple’s, if not more so.

After that weekend, we couldn’t bear to be apart, and a month later, Phil moved in with me.

‘Get that jar down for me,’ I’d ask.

‘Get it yourself, Leggy,’ he’d reply, laughing as I had to stand on a chair.

Phil never learned to drive – he couldn’t reach the steering wheel – but he was determined to live like anyone else.

His parents were both tall, but carried the dwarfism gene. He’s the only dwarf in the family – his two

brothers are over 6ft. Phil didn’t make any

adjustments to his house

and bought his clothes from normal shops. His mum altered them for him.

But one thing really worried me. I’d heard that dwarfs didn’t live long. But Phil assured me there was no increased risk of early death.

‘You’re stuck with me forever!’ he said, winking.

Together foreverEveryone loved Phil. My friends and parents, Steve and Lisa,

saw how happy he made me. One night, five months after

we’d met, he turned to me and asked: ‘Fancy getting married?’

‘Yes!’ I said, delighted.On 2 July 2002, we tied the

knot at Belfast City Hall. Another of Snow White’s

dwarfs, Jason Tompkins, who’d played Sneezy, was best man. At 3ft, he made Phil look gigantic.

We spent our honeymoon in Tunisia. On the beach, as Phil put suntan lotion on my back, I didn’t care about the stares – I was the luckiest girl in the world.

Back home, we talked about the future. ‘I’d love to be a dad,’ Phil said.

I wanted his baby, but there was a 50 per cent chance of dwarfism. What if our kid was bullied and labelled a freak?

‘I’d help,’ Phil said. ‘I know what it feels like.’

With Phil as a dad,

I thought our child could cope with anything.

I found out I was pregnant that November and knew we’d love our child no matter what.

A scan showed our baby was normal-sized. And after a long labour, he was born

– weighing 8lb 14oz.As I passed Phil

his son, he nearly fell backwards under the weight. ‘He’s a strapping lad!’ he said, grinning.

Jake’s now two- and-a-half, and already reaches Phil’s chest. I’m training to be a

nurse, and we’re planning to have more children.

People can stare or make jokes about Phil’s size, but the most important thing is how we feel. After all – he’s my big love.

AS TOLD TO ELLA BUCHAN ella.buchan@newsmagazines.co.ukTel: 020 7198 3047

‘ My hubby’s small – but he’s in bed!’ BIG

‘On our wedding day, Phil said he felt 10ft tall’

‘Our two-year-old son, Jake, already comes up to Phil’s chest’

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When I leaned down to kiss Phil, I was breathless. I fancied him like mad

‘Phil, top, in panto with Des from Corrie (Phil Middlemiss), top right, and best man Jason Tompkins, bottom right’