Paddy and Christine McGuinness have announced they are separating after 11 years of marriage.
The Top Gear presenter, 48, and former The Real Housewives Of Cheshire cast member, 34, who share twins Leo and Penelope, nine, and younger daughter Felicity, six, are focusing on being the 'best parents' to their three children as they announced they have separated.
In a lengthy joint statement released on Instagram the pair stressed they felt they needed to 'clarify' after the speculation surrounding their relationship and had made the 'difficult decision' to move forward for their family.
The statement reads : “We hadn’t planned on sharing this publicly until we were ready but after the lack of privacy surrounding our personal life, we feel left with no other option but to clarify.
“A while ago we took the difficult decision to separate but our main focus as always is to continue loving and supporting our children. This was not an easy decision to make but we’re moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children. We’ll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together.
“We hope this now draws a line under anymore unwanted and unnecessary intrusion into our private life. Although we work in the public eye we ask kindly if you could respect our wishes for privacy on this matter. We’ll be making no further comment.”
The pair signed off the message: “Loads of love. Paddy & Christine.”
A source told MailOnline the pair had 'given everything' to their marriage commenting: 'It's been no secret within their inner circle that it's been a difficult few years for them as a couple but they still very much support each other and will continue to do so throughout their separation.''
The Games contestant has shared her journey to her own autism diagnosis and admitted she spent many years uncomfortable around people outside of their home.
She said: 'In my 20s I had around eight years of just staying in and avoiding any kind of contact with anybody other than my husband. I just avoided everyone. I didn't socialise, I've never really had friends so it's never been an issue.
''It's something that I've thought for years and even at school I always felt different. I have known there is something.''
The TV presenter hinted that the pair were 'polar opposites' in his biography My Lifey in the chapter entitled Marriage and Kids saying the pair shared no comment interests but made each other laugh and mutual love of sex.
'So why are we still married after a decade? Answer: we laugh and make love… a lot.'
