Christine and Paddy McGuinnesshave announced that they have split after 15 years together - eleven of them married - following Christine's recent admission that they were having a "difficult time".
The former couple announced the news in a joint statement posted on Instagram that read, "We hadn't planned on sharing this publicly until we were ready but after the lack of privacy surrounding our personal life, we feel left with no other option but to clarify.
"A while ago we took the difficult decision to separate but our main focus as always is to continue loving and supporting our children. This was not an easy decision to make but we're moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children. We'll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together.
"We hope this now draws a line under anymore unwanted and unnecessary intrusion into our private life. Although we work in the public eye we ask kindly if you could respect our wishes for privacy on this matter. We'll be making no further comment."
They signed the statement, "Loads of love. Paddy & Christine."
They have three children together, Felicity, and twins Leo and Penelope, all of whom have autism.
Christine sparked rumours that all was not well after admitting to fans in an Instagram Q&A, “I’m feeling really quite raw and all over the place. What I might have put up with in the past, I probably wouldn’t put up with now.”
She also revealed, “This year I met the most broken version of me, but also the strongest.
“Regarding the press... There is only one thing I want to make clear right now... I didn’t put us in this situation.”
Last month, she jetted off on a girls’ holiday to Croatia with close friend and The Games co-star, footballer Chelcee Grimes, while Paddy stayed at home in Cheshire with their children.