Paul Hollywood and his wife of nearly two decades, Alex, have announced in a joint statement that they are separating.The Great British Bake Off star and his wife have revealed with 'sadness' that they are going through a 'very difficult time' and that they are separating after nearly 20 years of marriage.
The couple have asked for privacy at this time as they make their primary focus 'the happiness of our son.'
Paul Hollywood and Alex's joint statement reads: '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 and Alex married in 1998, mere weeks after first meeting each other in Cyprus, where Paul was working as a head baker in a hotel. The couple's son Josh is now a teenager.
Paul and Alex Hollywood previously separated in 2013 after the famous chef admitted that he had had an affair with Marcela Valladolid, a co-star of his from the American version of Bake Off. In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live after the shock confession, Paul described the affair as 'the biggest mistake of my life', and he and Alex reconciled shortly afterwards.
Paul Hollywood, who is now 51, shot to stardom as a chef in hotels, but became a household name after becoming a judge on The Great British Bake Off with Mary Berry in 2010, when the show first aired on the BBC with Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins as hosts.
This year, Paul made the jump to Channel 4 with the show.
He has confirmed that he will return as a judge for a second time on Channel 4's new series of The Great British Bake Off, which will air again next year.
