Countdown host Colin Murray has reportedly split from his wife of 11 years, Carly Paradis.
The presenter, 45, and the Line of Duty composer, also 45, are believed to have quietly ended their relationship late last year shortly after he joined the Channel 4 show.
The Northern Irish broadcaster, who married Paradis in 2012, first sparked split speculation last month as he hinted he had parted ways from his wife during an interview with Radio Times.
When asked who was in charge of the TV remote in his house, he answered: "It’s just me, so me. I’m [the] master of my domain."
And now a source has said: “Colin and Carly separated after work pushed them apart.
“Colin got really busy with Countdown and his BBC Radio 5 Live show, while Carly is busy at work as a musician.
“They ultimately took the decision at the end of last year that it was no longer working between them,” the source told The Sun.
The insider added that the pair have been “open with their friends and family” about the split and are “trying to move on as best they can”.
The Standard has contacted Colin Murray for comment.
Murray also hosts a late night radio show on Monday to Thursday on BBC Radio 5 Live, which airs from 10pm to 1am.
In January, the host was named the new permanent host of Countdown after acting as “caretaker” for the past half-year.
He had fronted the long-running Channel 4 game show since Anne Robinson stepped down last summer.
Channel 4’s head of daytime and features, Jo Street, said the broadcaster had “listened to the fans” and decided to keep him on as its “permanent host”.
After the news was announced on Steph’s Packed Lunch, Murray said: “It’s a career dream to be named as permanent anchor of one of television’s most iconic programmes.
“I have been a fan since day one, been part of the family for over a decade, appearing on Dictionary Corner, and now I get the honour of guiding it into a fifth decade.
“However, I don’t just want Countdown to survive, I want it to thrive.
“During my caretaker stint we’ve seen more people tune back in, with close to a million (900,000) watching the series final in December, and I want that to just be the beginning.
“Countdown is a special show, and its stars will always be the letters and the numbers, but it’s more than that. Great afternoon company for people of all ages from all across the UK.”
