Paddy and Christine McGuinness reportedly "tried everything to save their marriage" after a "difficult few years" before announcing their split on Friday.
Their relationship woes prior to calling it quits after 15 years together were apparently no secret to their inner circle, but the two stars have always been committed to co-parenting their three young children together.
Both Paddy and Christine took to their respective Instagram accounts on Friday afternoon (July 22) to finally put an end to the speculation surrounding the state of their 11-year marriage.
Writing to her 669,000 followers, Christine explained how the decision to split had been made "a while ago" in the joint statement from the former couple.
The mum-of-three - who earlier this month revealed she and Paddy were going through a "very, very difficult" time - revealed both stars will continue to live in the family home alongside their three children; twins Leo and Penelope, eight, and daughter Felicity, five.
"We'll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together," an extract from the lengthy joint statement reads.
Rumours Paddy and Christine had been prominent over recent weeks, with the former Real Housewives of Cheshire star even revealing she "didn’t cause this situation" when discussing their marriage troubles in an interview earlier this month.
According to pals of the two stars, it was known by their nearest and dearest that the pair had been going through "difficult few years" as a couple.
A source told MailOnline: "Paddy and Christine have given everything to their marriage over the years.
"Sadly, they have made the tough decision to part ways for the sake of their young family, who they will continue to co-parent together."
The insider went on the claim: "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."
Christine, 34, and Paddy first sparked concerns over their marriage when he failed to support her at The Games. Later, Christine took a solo trip, and cryptically discussed "following her heart".
The rumour mill went into overdrive when fans thought they had spotted that Paddy had removed his heart tattoo – which replaced his wedding ring as a sign of their marriage – from his wedding finger.
The former beauty queen opened up about their relationship in an interview with The Sun earlier this month, in which she said: "What I might have put up with in the past, I probably wouldn’t put up with now, and the same for him."
"I can't lie we're having a very, very difficult time."
She went on to add that while reluctant to go into detail about the issues within their marriage, she "didn’t cause this situation" the pair found themselves in.
Hours before issuing the joint statement on Friday, Paddy posted a photo of him and Christine smiling together following a trip the couple made to Centre Parcs.
The pair were due to go abroad with their three children but their holiday to Spain was cancelled as their daughter's passport was out of date.
Paddy and Christine appeared to be putting a defiant display in the photo amid speculation surrounding their marriage, as the both grinned at the camera for the image.
But just a few hours later the doting parents announced the end of their marriage, after tying the knot in June 2011 following a four-year courtship and welcoming three children into the world together since.
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