Inside Linda Robson's fraught last year of marriage as she confirms split
Linda Robson has confirmed she's split with her husband, Mark Dunford, after months of speculation the pair were on the rocks.
In the last year, the Loose Women star, 65, has dropped a number of hints her marriage was in trouble, despite insisting she was still with the father of two children, Roberta, 27, and Louis, 31, "at the moment".
However, after her bombshell admission the couple hadn't had sex in two years – which the actress made live on Loose Women – fans began to speculate it was only a matter of time before the split was confirmed. So, as Linda looks forward to going on a cruise with Birds of a Feather co-star, Lesley Joseph, as she says she "can't be a***d" with dating, here's a look inside the last year of her marriage to Mark, which was anything but "plain sailing".
Loose Women's Linda Robson has called time on her marriage to the father of her two kids, Mark Dunford (Dave Benett/Getty Images)
They have been married for 33 years (Dave Benett/Getty Images)Linda goes to Spain solo after 'rough patch' with Mark
After sources reported Linda had been experiencing marriage troubles, saying the couple "had a hit a bit of a rough patch", the mum-of-three initially planned to get away with her daughter Lauren and grandchildren, but instead decided to enjoy a "a few days away" in Mallorca in April.
This changed after her eldest daughter wanted a "little family holiday" with her husband and two children, which prompted Linda to take things into her own hands and take a solo trip. Telling the Loose Women panel about her decision to leave Mark at home, Linda said: "I got the right hump, so I booked a flight to Mallorca, on my own. It was lovely. Really lovely. The only one I missed was the dog, who had to stay at home."
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Reports couple have 'lost their spark', which Linda denied
The holiday came amid speculation Linda had been trying to save her marriage after it was claimed she felt like her and Mark have "lost a bit of a spark". A source told new! magazine after her trip: "Linda is working through things. She just feels like they've lost a bit of a spark and they're in their own different worlds. She does want to work on it, but she is struggling. They are hoping to get through it."
There had been reports about the marriage in March, with a source previously telling the Sun: "[She's] been quite open behind the scenes about problems in her marriage."
However, Linda told The Sun: "That’s a load of rubbish. We’re still living together. We both love our kids more than anything else in the world, obviously you have a few hiccups in every marriage. We’ve been married 33 years so it’s not going to be all plain sailing, but we’re still together at the moment."
No sex for two years
Linda sparked further speculation her marriage was in trouble when she revealed she and Mark had not had sex in two years, leaving Loose Women viewers gobsmacked. Opening up about her relationship in June, the mum-of-three said: "Can I just say I've been celibate for two years?," before Denise Welch chimed in to add: "I know, but you've got to get with it."
Linda revealed she and Mark hadn't had sex for two years (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Linda then went on to say: "I know, you got me a lady friend," before Denise confirmed she had bought her pal the adult gift. Host Charlene White looked somewhat confused by the exchange, asking: "Can you just clarify that?" Referring to her gift, Linda laughed: "A lady's little friend, you know? "I've had no choice because I haven't had it for two years."
While viewers praised Linda for being so open about her sex life, others were concerned about her marriage, as one took to X, saying: "I'm confused, I thought Linda was happily married. Obviously not."
Admitting things 'aren't right' in her relationship
In September, Linda appeared to suggest she had split with Mark, telling the Loose Women panel: "If something's not right in a relationship then I find it very hard to disguise it. And things haven't been right in my relationship for quite a long time so erm, I've been very honest about it."
Insisting she's "not looking for anyone" and "can't be f*****" when discussing dating, Linda, who was in an 11-year relationship with ex Tony prior to marrying Mark, said: "I’ve had two loves of my life and now my grandchildren are the love of my life and my children. So no I’m not looking for anyone."
'Enough is enough'
After her no sex admission and months of speculation her marriage was over, Linda has finally confirmed she and Mark have called time on their relationship. Telling Woman magazine she is now single, she said of her former partner: "He’s a really good dad and we had some good years, but enough is enough.
"I’ve got my family and my kids around me. And I’m going on a cruise with Lesley Joseph in November. I’m keeping busy. I feel fine. I’m just going away on trips all the time." when asked if she may consider another relationship in the future, Linda seemed pretty adamant on keeping her single status, stating: "I’m not interested [in dating] honestly. I can’t be a***d with all that."
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