Paul Hollywood and wife Alex split after 20 years of marriage
PAUL Hollywood and his wife Alex have announced that their marriage is over after almost 20 years.
The Great British Bake Off presenter and his wife released a joint statement through Press Association this evening.
"It is with sadness that we have decided to separate.
"Our focus continues to be the happiness of our son, and we would ask the press and public to allow us privacy as a family during this very difficult time."
Paul met his wife Alexandra in Cyprus in 1996 while she was working as a diving instructor at the five-star hotel where he was head baker.
They married in that country in 1998 and had a son in October 2001, called Josh.
They previously separated in 2013 when the TV chef admitted to having an affair with Marcela Valladolid, his co-star on the US version of Bake Off.
The couple reconciled a few months later and he described the incident as "the biggest mistake of my life" in an interview with BBC Radio 5 live at the time.
He told Richard Bacon in October 2013: "I did have an affair in America with my co-judge and it was the biggest mistake of my life because actually I still love my wife.
"We are talking, we are working to get back together again but it's going to take time.
"I don't mind talking about it now, because I am asking the press to give us privacy because that's exactly what we need at the moment.
"I was shocked about the whole thing kicking off the way it did... but I deserved it and I've taken it. It was my punishment."
In 2015 Paul and Alex said they were in a “very good place.”
Paul said: "We went through a very difficult time but we’re on top right now ... There was no let-up but now I feel we’re in a very good place. I think this is the happiest we’ve ever been. Our love of food is the key to it all.
"We love going out and have done that a lot this year. We’re away for Valentine’s Day. That was my idea. I can be a romantic. The way to every woman’s heart is through her stomach. Food is at the core of everything."
Alex added: "You’ve just got to get on with life, haven’t you? I’m an eternal optimist, he’s an optimist.
“We’re having a good time. The most romantic thing he did was bake chocolate croissants on a Sunday morning. That was a lovely thing to do."
The 51-year-old baker will return as a judge for the second series of Channel 4's The Great British Bake Off next year.
