Carol McGiffin Opens Up About Marriage Regret with Chris Evans
Carol McGiffin has candidly revealed she regrets marrying television presenter Chris Evans, admitting she "didn't like him" for a significant portion of their seven-year marriage. The former Loose Women panellist made the startling confession during an appearance on the Suddenly Single podcast by Best Magazine, where she questioned the very foundation of their 1990s union.
Questioning Their Decision to Wed
The 66-year-old broadcaster reflected on her marriage to the TFI Friday host, which began in 1991 and ended in divorce in 1998. "I don't really know why we got married," McGiffin stated bluntly. "We shouldn't have. For quite a lot of the time, I didn't like him." This revelation adds a new dimension to their public relationship, which was often portrayed as a high-profile media pairing during the peak of both their careers.
McGiffin further explained that Evans had been the driving force behind their decision to marry, while firmly rejecting any suggestion that financial considerations played a role. In previous television appearances, she had described feeling "swept along" by the relationship and convincing herself she "couldn't live without him." These comments paint a picture of a union that may have been more about momentum than genuine compatibility.
Finding Love Again with Mark Cassidy
Two decades after her separation from Evans, McGiffin found lasting love with Mark Cassidy, whom she met at a Loose Women wrap party in 2008. At the time, Cassidy was 26 while McGiffin was 48. The couple subsequently eloped, marrying in an intimate ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, and keeping their nuptials secret from family and friends for months.
Reflecting on their unconventional wedding day, McGiffin shared: "It was a bit tragic really. I was injured so it was impossible to dress up. Mark wore shorts and I had long trousers as I had a bandage on my knee. There is one picture." Addressing their decision to marry privately, she continued: "Quite a few people were a bit upset that we had done it without telling them. We didn't even tell Mark's mum and dad for six months."
McGiffin defended their secretive approach, explaining: "But we knew people would make a fuss and it really wasn't a big deal. We'd been together for 10 years by then." This contrasts sharply with her more public marriage to Evans, suggesting she has embraced a different approach to relationships in her later life.
Chris Evans' Subsequent Marriages
Following his divorce from McGiffin, Chris Evans went on to marry actress Billie Piper in 2001, though that union lasted only three years before ending due to "irreconcilable differences and pressures of demanding careers." The radio and television presenter then found lasting partnership with Natasha Shishmanian, whom he married in 2007. The couple have four children together, and Evans also has an older daughter, Jade, from a previous relationship.
Evans, who has recently revived his popular programme TFI Friday, frequently discusses his family life on his Virgin Radio breakfast show. He once revealed that he and his wife had separate sleeping arrangements following the arrival of their twins, Boo and Walt. "My wife sleeps on a different floor in a different bedroom with the twins," he told listeners, adding, "It works perfectly, she's so clever." He later clarified this was a temporary arrangement that would evolve as their family adapted to having four young children.
McGiffin's candid reflections provide a rare glimpse into the private realities behind celebrity marriages, highlighting how public perceptions often differ from personal experiences. Her journey from a regretful first marriage to a secret second wedding demonstrates how relationship priorities can change dramatically over time.
