Ainsley Harriott on This Morning
Ainsley Harriott has opened up about how his marriage suffered (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Ainsley Harriott has said he believes being labelled a ‘national treasure’ cost him his marriage.

The TV chef, 67, is best known for presenting cooking game shows including Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook and Ready Steady Cook.

He has also hosted a string of other shows, as well as appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and The Masked Singer in 2023.

But Ainsley has now said his public profile contributed to his marriage break-down.

Ainsley split from his wife Clare Fellows in 2012 after 23 years of marriage.

Speaking on Rylan Clark’s How to be in the Spotlight podcast, Ainsley was asked about how he coped with his ‘national treasure’ status.

Ainsley Harriott has hosted shows like Can't Cook, Won't Cook and Ready Steady Cook.
Ainsley has hosted shows like Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook and Ready Steady Cook (Picture: Adele Jakeman)

‘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,’ he said.

‘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.

‘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.’

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and the culinary arts.
He was appointed a MBE in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to broadcasting and the culinary arts (Picture: Brett D. Cove/ SplashNews.com)

He added: ‘A lot of people in the industry have been there and you feel divided because there are two of you but ultimately there is only one.’

Ainsley then said it was difficult to balance being in the spotlight and maintaining his upbeat persona while dealing with his marriage ending.

‘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,’ he explained.

Ainsley Harriott and Clare Fellows split in 2012.
In 2012 Ainsley split from his wife Clare Fellows after 23 years of marriage (Picture: Richard Young/ Shutterstock)

‘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. I have never been a druggie. I have never been a heavy boozer. I did some sport, a bit of tennis.

‘I had support without thinking I had support. Mates would pop round and have a chat, or I would go over for a meal. It was just having some company.’

In 2020 Ainsley told The Mirror he ‘will always have love and feelings’ for his ex-wife.

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‘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,’ he said.

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