Gary Lineker and wife Danielle are splitting after six years of marriage
They disagreed over starting a family together
BBC Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker is splitting from his wife Danielle after six years of marriage.
A spokesperson has confirmed the split over claims they disagreed about whether to have children together.
Both Gary and Danielle have taken to Twitter today, after a judge granted their 'quickie' divorce, to tell their fans they want to remain friends.
The 55-year-old face of Walker's crisps first met Welsh model Danielle Bux, 36, on a blind date at an Italian restaurant in 2007.
At the time, OBE winner Gary told The Mirror; 'It's the only blind date I've ever been on. But I was beginning to despair of ever meeting "the one"... my mate told me Danielle was gorgeous but I've seen his "gorgeous" before. So I Googled her and just thought – wow.'
The pair dated in secret for several months and tied the knot at a lavish ceremony in Italy in 2009.
Gary had been married previously, to Michelle Cockayne between 1986 and 2006, and they have four children together - George, 23, Harry, 21, Tobias, 19 and Angus, 17.
GoodtoKnow Newsletter
Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.
The former Virgin air stewardess also has a daughter of her own, Ella, 14, with Coventry City player Adam Willis.
From the beginning of their relationship, there was uncertainly over whether the couple would have a baby together. Gary, former England football captain, told The Times; 'She has a child from a previous relationship and I have four of my own, so we are not sure if we want any more.
'Some weeks it seems like a good idea, other weeks it doesn't. When we are on a plane and we hear screaming babies, it definitely doesn't... '
Danielle also dated Scottish rugby player Simon Danielli before being introduced to Gary in 2007.
A spokesperson added; 'They remain the greatest of friends and wish each other every happiness... they made a great couple but their different views on having children is what made them realise they had to split.'
Trusted, informative, and empathetic – GoodToKnow is the ultimate online destination for parents. At GoodtoKnow, our mission is 'simple': we're trying to make sense of parenthood. On the site, you'll find everything you need for a happy, healthy family life. Our huge archive of content includes more than 18,000 articles and 1,500 how-to videos. These include expert-backed advice features on parenting, dealing with relationship changes after having a baby, self-care for mums and managing your family finances. We also feature tried-and-tested product reviews and buying recommendations for every stage of family life - from prams and Moses baskets to birthday gifts and top toys.
-
Why do I crave sugar? Causes of sugar cravings and how to stop them
If you're someone who suffers from sugar cravings you'll know how hard it is to give up the sweet stuff. But you're not alone.
By Debra Waters Published
-
Low sodium diet: the benefits of reducing salt and what foods to eat
By Emily-Ann Elliott Published