TV personality Anthea Turner has given a candid interview about her divorce from Grant Bovey.
The couple were married in the year 2000 after both leaving their respective partners to pursue the relationship, but separated in 2015 following multiple infidelities on Grant's part.
Speaking to HELLO! magazine, former GMTV host Anthea said that Grant had told her that he would have 'possibly' stayed had they been able to have children together.
Grant and Anthea were never able to conceive, despite undergoing five rounds of IVF during their time together, and she admits that Grant's comments were difficult to hear.
'I did once ask him if he would have stayed if we'd had our own children, to which he replied, "Possibly",' she explained in the interview. 'I shall never know, of course, but I can't pretend that wasn't painful to hear. It was a double blow, I guess.'
Grant has three children from his previous marriage to Della Bovey, whom he famously left after a two-year affair with Anthea. In 2013, Grant was found to be having an affair with interior designer Zoe de Mallet Morgan – 24 at the time – with Anthea and Grant officially divorcing in 2015.
'Looking back, I regret the pain we caused,' she said. 'It was a terrible time of hurt all round and, knowing what I know now, I am so sorry about it all.'
'I can understand why some people think I got my comeuppance when my relationship then went on to deteriorate in the way it did. But I loved Grant and I can't regret the 15 years we had together. There were some very happy times.'
However, Anthea also revealed that she's in a much better place now after counselling sessions and writing her therapeutic book, 'How to Survive a Divorce'.
'This is the first year I have woken up and felt normal, and not lost. I'm in a happy place and I don't need anybody, but if someone nice were to come along I'd be open to loving again.'
But she's conscious that, having been out of the dating game for a long while, she might be a bit out of practise.
'I'm rubbish at it, but I think I will love again. There is a different between dating and going out. You can be a serial dater and not be exclusive. I think of it as auditioning men.'
'I know what I want and what I deserve. I want someone to respect me. That's really important to me. Your sh*t shapes you. My divorce happened because there had been a lack of respect.'
