Ainsley Harriott has spoken out about what contributed to the breakdown of his 23-year marriage to wife Clare in a new interview.
The TV chef, 67, and former costume designer Clare announced their plans to divorce in 2012 but have remained on good terms.
They have two children; Maddie and Jimmy, and the couple became grandparents to ‘ a beautiful baby girl’ last year.
Here we take a look at Ainsley’s heartbreaking divorce from Clare as the former Ready, Steady Cook star reflects on what made them part ways 12 years ago…
This week, Ainsley admitted being in the spotlight and considered a ‘national treasure’ partly contributed to their divorce.
The TV favourite said being a famous face is ‘difficult for partners’ as they are forced to ‘share’ their other half ‘all the time.’
‘It’s other people who put you into that category, you don’t put yourself in there,’ he told Rylan Clark on his How to Be in the Spotlight podcast, when asked how he felt about being a ‘national treasure.’
‘You’re not someone who brings negativity, you’re someone who brings a smile to them, so most of the time people approach me or if I’m in my supermarket and they bash their trolley into mine… it’s always a lovely moment.
Ainsley said the downside, however, was the impact it had on his wife, a costume designer he met in a clothes shop.
‘I think it’s difficult for partners, it was certainly difficult for my ex so I think that probably contributed to our break up,’ he said.
‘Because you’re sharing that person that you love all the time and that’s really hard. We’ve all been there, a lot of people in the industry have been there. You feel divided.’
Despite the downsides, he said it was a ‘lovely, lovely’ feeling when he received his MBE in 2020 and has a ‘studio at home full of prizes and awards.’
He added: ‘I’ve always just enjoyed people so being in the spotlight is being able to be in a position where you can respond positively with people, give people that feedback.
‘Being in the spotlight for me, considering I’ve been doing it 30 years, I’m comfortable with it.’
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
Source: USA Today
