Ashley Banjo and Francesca Abbott revealed yesterday evening that they had called time on their relationship 18 months ago.
The pair, who share two young children, had gone their separate ways, they said, but continue to try and be ‘best friends to each other.’
The Diversity star, 33, and Francesca, a dancer, said in a joint statement on Instagram that they are now focusing on their children, three-year-old Rose and two-year-old Micah.
Following their shocking announcement, fans are now intrigued to see what their relationship was like before their split.
Ashley and Francesca were together for more than 16 years. They said in the recent statement that they were teenage sweethearts, having began dating prior to adulthood.
He once revealed that he had taken her to the Science Museum in London for their first date back in 2005, writing about the experience in a previous post on Instagram.
"I couldn't drive, so I took [her] on a date to the science museum to try and make her laugh and impress her with how much I knew about the nerdiest subjects possible instead," he recalled.
The pair made their vows back in July 2015 after being together for 10 years. They tied the knot in a stunning venue in Essex, with Ashley sharing pictures of the day on social media.
Writing about her in a former post for Valentine's Day, Ashley described Francesca as his ‘best friend’. He had further commented in the post: "[I] love her more than she knows.”
He added: "Among other things she's also a PA, an honest opinion, a lost property detector, an oven for babies, an OCD pillow plumper and a life-size hot water bottle."
Ashley – known for his stints on Britain’s Got Talent and Dancing On Ice – shares two children with Francesca. The former couple welcomed their first child Rose in 2019.
Ashley couldn't hold back his pride as he announced his daughter's arrival, writing at the time: "Our beautiful daughter came into the world at 6.45pm on 21st February 2019 – weighing a healthy 8lbs and 13oz.
"Her name is Rose Adura Banjo. I am in the deepest love ever with my little family."
They welcomed their second child, Micah Grace, on March 26, 2020.
Taking to Instagram again following his son's birth, he wrote: "On Thursday the 26th March at 6.45pm our son came into the world weighing a healthy 8lbs 15oz. His name is Micah Grace Banjo...
"Our son, our little ray of light in a dark and uncertain time. @francescabanjo and I love him with the deepest part of our hearts."
Prior to their split, the couple lived in a gorgeous mansion in Essex, which boasted an intimate cottage-style feel, despite its sprawling size.
White interiors and wood panels lined the inside, whilst the living room saw high-end furniture and fittings.
The family opted for a soft grey colour scheme when it came to the sofas and rugs, while dark-wood picture frames of family images lined the walls of their home.
