Richie, Alex and 5-year-old Elijah pose for first family photo shoot

RICHIE and Alex met and fell in love on national TV — so it seems only fitting his new relationship with her son should also play out publicly.

RICHIE Strahan and Alex Nation met and fell in love on national television — so it seems only fitting his new relationship with her son should also play out publicly.

Strahan, Nation and 5-year-old Elijah have posed for a new photo shoot with OK! Magazine, looking very much the happy family.

Richie goes in for the handshake. Picture: Diimex

In the pictures, the 31-year-old ropes access technician can be seen hoisting his future stepson up onto his shoulders, while Nation, 24, looks on adoringly.

Richie’s finally met Alex’s son, Elijah. Picture: Diimex

They looked like a pretty happy little family. Picture: Diimex

The trio went for a variety of looks throughout the day, changing from casual outfits to formal attire.

The reality TV stars also opened up to the publication about the boy’s “spontaneous” first meeting with his mother’s boyfriend.

“I said to Lij, ‘I’ve got a surprise in my room’, and he asked, ‘What is it?’ I said, ‘It’s asleep’, and then we went in there…’” Nation explained.

Strahan added: “I flew in quite late and woke up to the little guy with this big grin on his face.

I wake up to, ‘Richie!’ and I go, ‘Lij, what’s going on buddy?’ He jumped in, gave me a hug, and then we just chilled there for a bit.”

It was a particularly emotional moment for Nation.

“I knew it was going to be right, but when it transpired in front of me, that was everything,” she said.

“As a mother, you can’t put into words seeing everything feel so right when the man that’s come into your life meets the most important person in your world. I’m starting to cry now.”