Rachel Stevens Opens Up About Co-Parenting Struggles

Rachel Stevens candidly discussed the difficulties of co-parenting with her ex-husband Alex Bourne during an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of Lorraine. 

The S Club star, 46, announced she had split from her childhood sweetheart, Alex, in July 2022, just one month shy of their 13-year anniversary. 

Speaking on the ITV show to Lorraine Kelly, she admitted ‘it’s not been easy’ to navigate their seperation. 

The former couple share two daughters, Amelie, 12, and Minnie, nine, with Rachel now having moved on with her Dancing On Ice partner Brendyn Hatfield, 38. 

The singer explained: ‘It’s a process like with anything, and I love the word navigate because it so is. It’s such a process.’  

Rachel Stevens, 46, candidly discussed the difficulties of co-parenting with her ex-husband Alex Bourne during an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of Lorraine

Rachel continued: ‘With kids there is always things coming at you and they’re always going to be our priority and our focus, and keeping them safe in it all.

‘It’s not easy, but I feel very lucky that the kids are both of our priority, and we’ve had lots of help and advice in the lead up to our separation.

‘We just manage as best as we can, muddle our way through it, but with them at our forefront.’

Last week, Rachel revealed how falling for her Dancing On Ice partner Brendyn led to her ‘messy and scary’ split from her ex-husband Alex. 

The S Club star went official with the skater in November after first being paired together on the ITV show and striking up a friendship in early 2022. 

Rachel said she was left in ‘turmoil’ amid the blossoming romance and feared for daughters Amelie and Minnie. 

Speaking to The Sun she admitted: ‘[The split] was messy. I knew that we were growing, that I was growing apart, but I was in turmoil, because first of all my kids’.

Rachel went on to recall how she felt telling now ex-husband Alex about Brendyn admitting: ‘It was really scary, because I knew as soon as I said that, that was it.’ 

The S Club star announced she had split from her childhood sweetheart, Alex, in July 2022, just one month shy of their 13-year anniversary (pictured in 2017)

The former couple share two daughters, Amelie, 12, and Minnie, nine, with Rachel now having moved on with her Dancing On Ice partner Brendyn Hatfield, 38. 

Speaking on the ITV show to Lorraine Kelly, she admitted ‘it’s not been easy’ to navigate their seperation

The singer explained: ‘It’s not easy, but I feel very lucky that the kids are both of our priority, and we’ve had lots of help and advice in the lead up to our separation’

Before gushing about her new partner: ‘He’s a beautiful human, I really love him.’

Rachel and Brendyn were unfortunately among the first couples to be eliminated from the skating series, leaving the competition in Week 4, however they didn’t allow that to sour their relationship.

A source said at the time: ‘Rachel had a really great friendship and partnership with Brendyn and it keeps developing…she wasn’t expecting to find love again at this stage in her life but she’s feeling positive about what’s to come and hopeful about a new start.’

Announcing the news of her divorce Rachel wrote on Instagram: ‘I just wanted to share with you all that after time and consideration the difficult decision has been made for Alex and I to separate.

‘While we are no longer partners in marriage, we will remain partners in parenthood to our beautiful girls and continue with love and respect for each other. 

‘I feel so incredibly grateful for the life we built together and will now continue to be focused on moving forward united as a family.’

Rachel and Alex, who were childhood sweethearts and met again in adulthood, married at Claridge’s in London in 2009.

The pair walked down the aisle to S Club 7’s hit Never Had A Dream Come True and her bandmates – Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee, Paul Cattermole and Tina Barrett – were there to watch them say ‘I do’.

Last week, Rachel revealed how falling for her Dancing On Ice partner Brendyn led to her ‘messy and scary’ split from her ex-husband Alex (pictured on the show in February 2022)

She said: ‘[The split] was messy. I knew that we were growing, that I was growing apart, but I was in turmoil, because first of all my kids’ (pictured with ex Alex in 2011) 

Announcing the news of her divorce Rachel wrote at the time: ‘After time and consideration the difficult decision has been made for Alex and I to separate’ 

Earlier this year Rachel and Brendyn looked every inch of the loved-up couple as they cosied up together in a rare Instagram snap.

The singer cosied up for a selfie hugging the skater as the duo soaked the sun in a swimming pool.

Rachel looked stunning in a bandeau bikini top and Ray-Ban shades, accessorising with gold bracelets and earrings.

The skating sensation took to his Instagram page as he gushed over his partner and wrote candidly: ‘Having a much needed holiday together with my love.

‘Felt like the last five months have been a blur and it’s been nice to finally stop for a moment and take it all in. Couldn’t have made it through all the chaos without the help of this beautiful soul.’

‘It’s been so nice to get some sunshine and relaxation in before hitting the ground running on whatever comes next,’ he finished.

Earlier this year Rachel and Brendyn looked every inch of the loved-up couple as they cosied up together in a rare Instagram snap