Television chef John Torode has opened up about his journey from a 'quickie divorce' to finding happiness with wife Lisa Faulkner. The couple, who met on Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, have since become one of TV's most beloved duos, hosting John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen on ITV.
Torode, 58, was previously married to a woman named Jessica, with whom he has two children. Their marriage ended in 2011, but the divorce was not finalised until 2014, when it was reportedly dissolved in a matter of seconds at the High Court. Faulkner, 51, was also married before, to actor Chris Coghill, with whom she adopted a daughter named Billie.
The couple's romance began after Torode sent Faulkner a letter asking her out on a date. He later described the move as 'cowardly', explaining: 'I'd separated from my wife which was awful, and I was reluctant to approach Lisa face to face as I didn't fancy the prospect of her saying no, so I wrote her a letter.' Faulkner admitted she was initially 'petrified' of Torode when they first met, but they formed a friendship that eventually blossomed into love.
Torode and Faulkner tied the knot in 2019. When asked about the secret to their happy marriage, Torode said: 'A really well-made bed. You spend lots of time in it! Honestly, the bedroom – having that sanctuary of a place to go to, I think that's really important.' Faulkner added: 'We really like and fancy each other!'
Faulkner recently expressed pride in her husband after he received an MBE from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. 'I was really proud of John,' she told OK Magazine. 'It's an amazing achievement and the fact he got to meet Prince William! Out of everybody in the royal family, that's who I'd have liked to have met!'
