English celebrity chef, Ainsley Harriott, reveals the reason of his 2012 divorce with ex-wife, Claire Fellows!

Published on July 7, 2024 | Published By: shahid | In Divorce , Relationship

Relationships and married lives break down for several reasons. For a celebrity, the spotlight and celebrity status itself could be the negative factor and cause a relationship to collapse. English chef and TV personality, Ainsley Harriott, 67 split from his wife, Claire Fellows in 2012. He never gave any reason or interview at that time on it.

But recently, Ainsley appeared on the Rylan’s podcast, How to be in the Spotlight. He spoke, for the first time, about his divorce and what caused it.

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Ainsley Harriott talks about his fame and 2012 divorce

English TV chef, Ainsley Harriott, 67 had separated from his wife, Claire Fellows in 2012. It has been nearly twelve years now. But this is the first time that Ainsley spoke on it.

The celebrity chef was on Rylan’s podcast, How to be in the spotlight. On it, Ainsley blamed his celebrity status for the break-up. He admitted that it was difficult for his wife. Talking about his fame, Ainsley said:

“It’s other people who put you in that category, you don’t put yourself in there. You’re not someone who brings negativity, you’re someone who brings a smile.”
“Most of the time people approach me, even if they bash their supermarket trolley into me, it’s always a lovely moment, been doing it for years. They still bring a tomato and a pepper, ‘What you going to do with this?’. I smile, I have a little moment with them.”

Claire Fellows found it hard….

Ainsley went on to say that the spotlight thrust on him made his relationship fall to the background. This was hard for his wife. He continued:

“I think it’s difficult for partners. It was certainly difficult for my ex, and I think that probably contributed to our break-up because you are sharing the person that you love all the time and that is hard.”

Ainsley also revealed that though his marriage was disintegrating, he had still to show his smiling face and energetic, upbeat side to his fans and viewers:

“Because I was so natural if I felt a little bit down, they [the public] could see it, they could feel it. But at the same time, I was doing a programme that required you to be energetic and stuff like that.”
“It doesn’t affect how you perform necessarily, but it lives with you and it’s when you come off stage and how you deal with it.”

Does Ainsley still love his ex-wife?

Ainsley exchanged wedding vows with Claire in 1989 and has two children with her. How is his relation with his ex-wife now? Is there bitterness between them?

In 2020, Ainsley had disclosed that he still has feelings for Claire. In an interview to The Mirror UK, he said:

“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.”
“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.”

Short bio on Ainsley Harriott

Ainsley Harriott is an English chef and TV show host. More bio…

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