Fearne Cotton has reportedly been left reeling after photos of her kissing new boyfriend Elliot Hegarty hit the headlines—just weeks after announcing her split from husband Jesse Wood. The Happy Place podcast host, 43, was spotted locking lips with the Rivals TV director, 53, during a night out in London earlier this month. The sighting comes just 11 weeks after she confirmed the end of her 10-year marriage to Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood. Both Fearne and Elliot recently left long-term relationships, with Elliot splitting from his wife in December.
According to insiders, Jesse was already aware of Fearne’s new romance, but the public reveal has caused more of a stir than she expected. A source told MailOnline that Fearne was “shell-shocked” by the reaction and had hoped to keep the relationship under wraps for a little longer.
The Wood family, meanwhile, is reportedly unimpressed. The same source suggested that Fearne’s former in-laws were hoping for a smoother transition following the split and weren’t thrilled to see the romance making headlines so soon, according to the Mirror.
Fearne, who shares two children—Rex, 11, and Honey, 8—with Jesse, was said to be planning to announce her new relationship in her own time, ideally in a way that felt “more tasteful.” Another source added: “She wanted to share the happy news on social media herself.”
Fans were stunned when Fearne revealed her split from Jesse in December, just days after she underwent surgery to remove two tumours from her jaw. She broke the news with a heartfelt social media post, writing: “It is with a heavy heart that I let you all know that Jesse and I are ending our marriage. Our priority has been and always will be our children. We please ask that you respect the privacy of our family at this time.”
While Fearne hasn’t publicly discussed the details behind her marriage breakdown, she recently hinted at the emotional toll in an episode of her Happy Place podcast. Speaking to guest Caroline Hirons, she admitted feeling “depleted and stressed” in her relationship.
“I want to grow and expand myself in many ways but I don’t want to feel depleted and stressed out and not be able to be present in my family home. I want to have time with my friends, and have fun,” she shared.
Despite the unexpected public scrutiny, Fearne appears to be embracing this new chapter in her life—but it seems the road to happiness has come with a few bumps along the way.
