The UK’s 'most married man', who has tied the knot with eight different women, says he will be spending his golden years single. Ron Sheppard will be 75 in May and suffers a number of health issues - suggesting his many ex-wives have 'worn him out' - so he is set to move into a care home nearer to family.

But the serial groom won't be looking for a new lady to spend his twilight years with, declaring he's "done with going up the aisle." The father-of-eight has a range of medical conditions including Parkinson’s Disease, Lewy Body Dementia, COPD and Arachnoiditis, which have left him reliant on a wheelchair and a team of carers which visit him three times a day.

Ron said: "My health is not good now. I think it’s possible all my wives have worn my body out over the years. The mental and physical stress of the divorces have taken their toll."

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This is why romance won't be on his mind when he settles into the car home in the Isle of Wight, after he moves there from his flat in Somerton. He laughed: "If I meet a nice lady in the care home I think I will just keep it as a friendship. I’ve eaten enough wedding cake over the years - I’m done with going up the aisle."

That said, Ron insists: "I don’t regret any of my marriages, because I have my eight children." His longest marriage lasted 13 years while the shortest was just 10 months, reported Somerset Live.

He first tied the knot back in 1966 when he walked up the aisle with Margaret. They had three children together but divorced after two years.

Jeanette was next, but their marriage in 1973 lasted just one year. Ron's third wife was Lesley - they married in 1976 and had two boys together. However, he left her five years later and she died in 1996.

Ron Sheppard with his first wife Margaret after they married in December 1966
Ron Sheppard with his first wife Margaret after they married in December 1966

Ron, a former tour manager for comedian Norman Wisdom, then wedded Kathy in 1982. The couple, who had a daughter, worked at Pontins as bluecoats with Shane Richie.

In 1986, Ron married Sue and they had also two boys together but she kicked him after 11 years. Then followed Singaporean woman Usha in 1999, Wan in 2003 and Weng a year later.

Sadly, Ron says his constant search for 'the one' stems from the fact he was sexually abused as a child. He said: "It left me with a lot of problems. I was constantly craving companionship and I turned to women. I felt safe in the company of women."

Ron released his autobiography, Lord of The Weddings, in 2014. He is still working on his second book, The Wife Collector, which he says is due to be released alongside a film being made in the US.

Since his eighth marriage collapsed, Ron has remained single but says he has ‘friendships’ with a number of ladies. He is not in touch with any of his wives but looks forward to being close to his sons and their families soon, adding: "I am looking forward to getting over there and starting a new chapter of my life."

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