Ainsley Harriott has spoken out about what contributed to the breakdown of his 23-year marriage to wife Clare in a new interview.
The TV chef, 67, and former costume designer Clare announced their plans to divorce in 2012 but have remained on good terms.
They have two children; Maddie and Jimmy, and the couple became grandparents to ‘ a beautiful baby girl’ last year.
Here we take a look at Ainsley’s heartbreaking divorce from Clare as the former Ready, Steady Cook star reflects on what made them part ways 12 years ago…
Ainsley Harriott has spoken out about what contributed to the breakdown of his 23-year marriage to wife Clare in a new interview (pictured together in 2008)
Here we take a look at Ainsley’s heartbreaking divorce from Clare as the former Ready, Steady Cook star reflects on what made them part ways 12 years ago…
‘Being a national treasure contributed to our break-up’
This week, Ainsley admitted being in the spotlight and considered a ‘national treasure’ partly contributed to their divorce.
The TV favourite said being a famous face is ‘difficult for partners’ as they are forced to ‘share’ their other half ‘all the time.’
‘It’s other people who put you into that category, you don’t put yourself in there,’ he told Rylan Clark on his How to Be in the Spotlight podcast, when asked how he felt about being a ‘national treasure.’
‘You’re not someone who brings negativity, you’re someone who brings a smile to them, so most of the time people approach me or if I’m in my supermarket and they bash their trolley into mine… it’s always a lovely moment.
‘I smile and have little moment with them.’
Ainsley said the downside, however, was the impact it had on his wife, a costume designer he met in a clothes shop.
‘I think it’s difficult for partners, it was certainly difficult for my ex so I think that probably contributed to our break up,’ he said.
‘Because you’re sharing that person that you love all the time and that’s really hard. We’ve all been there, a lot of people in the industry have been there. You feel divided.’
Despite the downsides, he said it was a ‘lovely, lovely’ feeling when he received his MBE in 2020 and has a ‘studio at home full of prizes and awards.’
Despite the downsides to fame, Ainsley said it was a ‘lovely, lovely’ feeling when he received his MBE in 2020 and has a ‘studio at home full of prizes and awards’
He added: ‘I’ve always just enjoyed people so being in the spotlight is being able to be in a position where you can respond positively with people, give people that feedback.
‘Being in the spotlight for me, considering I’ve been doing it 30 years, I’m comfortable with it.’
‘I still have love and feelings for my ex-wife’
Ainsley admitted he still has ‘love’ for Clare but had moved on with a new partner. ‘My marriage didn’t last, but when I look at my children, there can be only positives’ (pictured in 1997)
Ainsley admitted back in 2020 that he still has ‘love’ for her but had moved on with a new partner.
‘My marriage didn’t last, but when I look at my beautiful children and the lovely relationship I have with them, there can be only positives,’ he told The Mirror.
‘I still have love and feelings for my ex-wife, that never stops because she gave me the most important things in my life, and there is a respect there. But everyone moves on, and that’s fine.
The TV chef then went on to talk about his new mystery partner.
He said: ‘I have a partner now and I’m enjoying having love and getting to share my life with someone, that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?
‘Although she always says to me, “I’d prefer it if you didn’t talk about me, thanks darling.”
‘My children are the loves of my life’
The former Ready, Steady, Cook host has two children, Maddie (pictured) and Jimmy with ex-wife Claire (pictured at the 2020 TRIC Awards)
During the same interview, Ainsley said his two children are the ‘loves of my life’ and revealed they have developed his same passion for cooking.
He said: ‘My children Jimmy and Maddie are the loves of my life, without a doubt.
‘You love your children even more than your partners because they’re a mixture of both of you, and they’re the most important things in your life.
‘I’m so glad I’ve been able to teach them how to cook and feel comfortable in the kitchen. They are both very able to throw dinner parties and entertain people, I love that.
Becoming a granddad
Ainsley shared a sweet snap to Instagram of his granddaughter’s hand wrapped around his finger
He penned: ‘I’m very happy to tell you that last week I became a grandad to a beautiful baby girl.’
Two months ago, the TV chef shared a sweet photo with his granddaughter. He wrote: ‘#familytime #grandad’
Ainsley became a grandfather for the first time last year.
He shared a sweet snap to Instagram of his granddaughter’s hand wrapped around his finger and wrote: ‘I’m very happy to tell you that last week I became a grandad to a beautiful baby girl.’
Ainsley did not make clear which one of his children, who keep their lives private, had welcomed their first child.
Two months ago, the TV chef shared a sweet photo with his granddaughter.
He wrote: ‘#familytime #grandad’.
