AINSLEY Harriott has revealed being a ‘national treasure’ led to the breakdown of his marriage.
The beloved TV chef, who is best known for fronting Ready Steady Cook, has opened up on the split from his wife Clare Fellows.
Ainsley, 67, has also fronted Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook and starred on Strictly Come Dancing as well as The Masked Singer.
But the presenter’s high profile took a toll on his marriage to Clare and they ultimately split in 2012.
The pair had been married for 23 years but Ainsley’s ‘national treasure’ status became too much for his other half.
He explained: “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.”
Ainsley continued to tell Rylan Clark: “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.”
Ainsley and Clare – who is a costume designer – share two children together, Jimmy and Maddie.
In 2020, Ainsley told the Mirror that he still has “love and feelings” for his wife.
He added that he now had a new partner and was “enjoying having love and getting to share my life with someone”.
