Roxy Hotchkiss and Judy Wilson back adoption campaign and urge families to explore

The Traitors star Roxy Hotchkiss and her adoptive mother Judy Wilson are backing a new campaign that promotes adoption. The pair spoke about their family story and urged people who are considering adoption to explore it seriously.

Roxy revealed during the most recent series of The Traitors that Judy had adopted her at four years old. In an interview, Judy said she had felt something was missing before Roxy arrived and knew as soon as she saw her that she was the missing piece. She said Roxy changed her life and the lives of the whole family.

Roxy said she had been in about five or six foster families before she was adopted. She described the change as one of total security and of no longer being passed around. It took time for her to understand that she had found a forever family, but once she did she thrived. She also recalled fears from her earlier life, such as being scared she would be picked up from school, and said Judy and her sons quickly helped her get over the fear of being left somewhere.

The campaign comes amid a forecast that only 13 per cent of children who need a family will find one by 2030. Roxy described the figure as crazy and said it meant many children and teenagers were falling through the gaps. She said people who have adoption in their hearts should start exploring it. Judy said stigma and fear may have put some people off, but there is now a lot of support to help families find the right child. She encouraged people not to be frightened and to explore adoption, adding that it is fine if it turns out not to be right for them.

Judy, who also works in fostering, said the Traitors platform had led to many conversations about adoption. Roxy, now a mother herself, said the love and care she received through adoption, and the obstacles she overcame, had helped prepare her to raise her daughter.