Fearne Cotton blamed Covid pandemic for sex life struggles before split from husband
WATCH HERE: Davina McCall gives her fans a health update following her surgery
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Fearne Cotton, 43, and Jesse Wood, 48, have announced the end of their marriage after 10 years together.
A resurfaced interview clip from 2021 has revealed the couple had been having intimacy issues for some time, which the 43-year-old blamed on the pandemic.
The 43-year-old presenter shared the news on Instagram on Friday, writing: "It is with a heavy heart that I let you all know that Jesse and I are ending our marriage."
She added: "Our priority has been and always will be our children. We please ask that you respect the privacy of our family at this time."
The split comes just weeks after Cotton revealed she was undergoing surgery for a benign tumour.
Together they share two children, Rex, 11, and eight-year-old daughter Honey. Wood, who is the son of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, also has two children from his first marriage - Arthur, 21, and Lola, 18.
Cotton and Wood announced their split on Friday
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Speaking to Alan Carr in 2021 on his Life's A Beach podcast, Cotton revealed how the pandemic had affected her and Wood's sex life.
"Sexy time hasn't happened for so long in terms of me going anywhere. I think for me and my husband, booking into the local Travelodge would make us feel sexy at the moment," she admitted.
She explained: "We have had no time alone because of the ridiculous pandemic but before all this craziness, Paris was our go-to. Not every weekend, maybe once a year."
Prior to their pandemic struggles, Cotton had revealed a major relationship crisis in 2019, detailing it in Red Magazine.
Cotton blamed the pandemic for the couple's intimacy issues
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"One blustery and grey day, this culminated in a screaming match in our local park, which lasted about two hours until we both broke and cried," she wrote.
The strain was largely due to Wood's touring schedule with his band Reef, with Cotton admitting: "Jesse and I hit a rough patch - he was away, touring relentlessly. I was trying to keep my own career going while looking after our kids."
"Love takes hard work - and no one wants to hear that," she had told her readers.
The announcement of their split comes just days after Jesse's band Reef revealed plans for their 30th anniversary tour in 2025.
Cotton also recently announced to fans that she had had to undergo surgery to remove two tumours on her jawline.
Ahead of the surgery last week, the presenter posted on her Instagram account and revealed: "Hey gang I'm going to be out of action for a bit due to a surgery. I felt a lump under my ear on my jawline a while ago now but this year noticed it was growing.
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"Turns out it's a benign tumour and another small one above it on the saliva gland. I'm feeling positive about it all and will take the opportunity to rest and slow right down.
"It's obviously so weird that only a couple of months ago Davina told me about her tumour and then weeks later I was calling her having discovered mine. I'm not only lucky she's a bloody good mate but also a beacon of light and positivity when it comes to this stuff."
In a recent update, the 43-year-old broadcaster shared an update about how the operation went and revealed: "Operation went really well. Recovering and resting.
"Thanks so much for all the kind messages." (sic)
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