It’s been a sad time for Kym Marsh, 46, who is said to have split for good with her husband of 18 months, Army major Scott Ratcliff, 34.
Spotted out and about still wearing her wedding ring, the former Coronation Street actress, who presents Morning Live and now appears in Waterloo Road, looked sombre as she was snapped shopping with daughter Emilie Cunliffe, 26.
Speaking about the reasons for the couple’s separation, a source tells OK!:“Kym and Scott are both saddened by the split. Unfortunately, distance and career paths led to the breakdown.”
Although the split is amicable, they point to the differences – and distance – between the pair, who tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Sandhurst military academy in October 2021.
“They had a trial split earlier this year after their first anniversary. Friends thought it was just a glitch and they would get back together but it just hasn’t resolved itself,” said the source.
Kym, who on Saturday took the lead role of Rachel Lumberg in Take That musical Greatest Days, will at least have plenty to take her mind off things as she embarks on a seven-month countrywide tour.
She’ll no doubt be relieved to have the support of Emilie, who is playing the younger Rachel in the hit show.
Meanwhile, Scott – “Ratty” to his friends – who serves with the Parachute Regiment, will continue to be based in his barracks in the south of England.
(Image: Getty)
Our source continued, “Scott is a lovely bloke and Kym hopes they will remain friends. He has his career down in Essex. Kym has her family, career and life up North and sadly nothing can change for either of them.”
Another insider said the couple’s packed diaries could have been a huge problem for them.
“They both really tried to make it work, but the cracks have been there for a while and they were only getting to see each other for one or two days a week at the very most.”
The former Hear’Say singer took part in the 2022 season of Strictly Come Dancing, which couldn’t have been easy for a couple struggling to spend time together.
The show’s notoriously gruelling rehearsal schedule meant that Kym had to spend her weekends practising with dance partner Graziano di Prima, 28.
They became the 10th couple to leave the ballroom.
This is Kym’s third marriage, having wed EastEnders actor Jack Ryder in 2002 and Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas in 2012.
Emilie and her brother, David 27, were from the actress’s five-year relationship with builder David Cunliffe.
She went on to have daughter Polly, now 11, with Jamie, but devastatingly, the couple lost baby Archie, who died soon after being born prematurely at 21 weeks in 2009.
Kym met Scott in 2018, through a mutual friend, her former Coronation Street colleague Antony Cotton, and it was only a matter of months before the officer had popped the question.
Speaking on the day of their fairy-tale wedding, Kym said, “It really was the best day ever. In many ways I feel like Scott saved me. I got to a point where I’d been so unlucky in love over the years. Scott and I are so different to anything else I’ve ever known and it’s strange as neither of us were looking for love when we fell for each other.
“He is my best friend and loves me no matter what. He’s always so supportive and loving to me.”
(Image: Kym Marsh Instagram)
Only a few months ago Kym, who still bills herself as “wife to Scott” on her Instagram profile, seemed very happy with her handsome Scotsman. She gushed ‘Happy Valentines Day to the Hubs!!!!! Love youuuuu’ and posted a red heart emoji.
The snap of the seemingly happy couple together prompted some of her 600,000 followers to comment on the couple’s 12-year age gap, with one cruelly commenting, “Hubs or son?”
Celebrity pals Fleur East and Helen Skelton were quick to add various love emojis, with Strictly pal Molly Rainford adding, “Looking gorgeous Kym”.
So this romantic chapter may have closed for Kym and Scott, but it looks like they have every chance to keep things amicable and part on friendly terms.
(Image: Instagram/Kym Marsh)
“They’ve taken the grown-up decision to admit it wasn’t working,” agreed our source.
An optimistic Kym was pictured on Insta smiling with her family at New Year. “Thanks for being good to us 2022 now let’s see what 2023 brings!!!!,” she wrote, looking radiant in a gold dress and with a beaming Scott, sporting a kilt, by her side.
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