Rachel Stevens announces shock split from husband of 12 years Alex Bourne

S CLUB beauty Rachel Stevens has revealed she had split from her husband of more than a decade Alex Bourne.

The pair, who were childhood sweethearts, married in 2009 and share daughters Amelie, 11, and Minnie, eight.

Rachel, 44, revealed the shocking news on Instagram tonight insisting they would stay “united” as a family.

She wrote: “I just wanted to share with you all that after time and consideration the difficult decision has been made for Alex and I to separate.

“While we are no longer partners in marriage, we will remain partners in parenthood to our beautiful girls and continue with love and respect for each other.”

She concluded: “I feel so incredibly grateful for the life we built together and will now continue to be focused on moving forward united as a family.”

Rachel rose to fame as part of pop sensation S Club 7 in 1999, going on to be a major pin-up in the lads mag era.

She went on to star on Dancing on Ice, coming second alongside dance partner Vincent Simone.

The stars exes include Holby and Hollyoaks actor Jeremy Edwards, 51, to whom she got engaged in 2002 before they split two years later.

Rachel recently insisted she’s love to recreate her mag shoot days at the age of 44.

She told The Sun: “Yes I’d do another bikini shoot, why not?

“I loved doing those shoots because it was an opportunity to do something where I could express myself in a different way to Top Of The Pops or Smash Hits and all those other magazines the band did.

“I love photoshoots and find them really creative. I love getting involved with how we are going to make the pictures look.”