I love Rich (Ringo) because he's a good bloke. He's good to Mum and they are a good team. Rich loves TV - EastEnders, Coronation Street, everything.' I tell her that the idea of Ringo Starr sitting watching Coronation Street is funny. 'He loves it. My whole childhood was spent watching that show and EastEnders.' But he's a Beatle... 'Yeah, but this Beatle loves EastEnders.' The recent death of George Harrison hit the family hard. 'Rich was so sad when George died. They had a deep connection, a soul connection,' she says. 'People think The Beatles were chummy all the time but that's not entirely the case. I knew George as "the gardener". He loved his garden and when we'd visit his house, that was what he showed us. He was so proud of it.' She asks me not to reveal where Starr and Bach now live 'because of what happened with George when he was attacked'. She is protective of her stepfather and he, in return, is supportive of her and her relationship, and was a guest at De Rossi's recent birthday party. Gregorini laughs. 'I wish Mum and Rich had been more shocked when I told them about my sexuality. I was like "This is who I am" and they were totally relaxed and said "Yeah, whatever", and then life went on exactly as it had before.'
Francesca Gregorini interview by Caroline Graham (Barbara Bach) and step-father (Ringo Starr), Sunday Mail, 01/07/2002
