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.’

Ainsley Harriott has recently opened up about the reasons behind the breakdown of his 23-year marriage to wife Clare in a candid interview. The popular TV chef, now 67 years old, and his former costume designer wife Clare decided to go their separate ways in 2012, although they have managed to maintain an amicable relationship. The couple shares two children, Maddie and Jimmy, and were over the moon to become grandparents to a beautiful baby girl last year.

In his interview, Ainsley reflected on the factors that led to their divorce 12 years ago. He confessed that the challenges of being in the spotlight and being considered a national treasure had taken a toll on their relationship. Ainsley shared that the public perception of him as a beloved figure made it difficult for his partners, as they had to constantly share him with the world.

The TV personality acknowledged that while being adored by the public was a nice feeling, it also had its drawbacks, especially for his wife, who he met while she was working as a costume designer in a clothing store. Ainsley expressed empathy for his ex-wife and acknowledged that sharing a loved one with the world could be a source of strain in a relationship.

Despite the challenges, Ainsley revealed that receiving an MBE in 2020 was a proud moment for him. He described his home studio filled with awards and trophies as a testament to his long and successful career. Ainsley expressed his enjoyment of interacting with people and spreading positivity, reflecting on his comfort with being in the spotlight after three decades in the industry.

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