Natasha Kaplinsky is navigating significant personal and professional changes following the dissolution of her 20-year marriage to financier Justin Bower. The former news presenter, who gained early fame as the inaugural winner of Strictly Come Dancing, is reportedly deeply affected by the separation, which has been described by close acquaintances as painful but not attributable to any one party.
The couple’s marital breakdown, which dates back some time, is approaching finality. Earlier this year, the pair discreetly placed their expansive Sussex countryside home on the market for approximately £7 million. The property, set on 200 acres and featuring amenities such as a swimming pool, cinema room, and outdoor bath, was home to a variety of farm animals including alpacas and goats. Around the same period, their chalet in France was listed for sale at £2.7 million. In a joint statement released this week, Kaplinsky and Bower confirmed their decision to end the marriage and emphasized their ongoing focus on co-parenting their two teenage children.
Sources close to the family have indicated that challenges accumulated over the past several years contributed to the breakdown of the marriage. Notably, Kaplinsky and her family were involved in a traumatic boating accident in Corfu in 2018, during which a hired boat caught fire, resulting in serious injuries. Kaplinsky has described the experience as deeply distressing and has since undergone eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Her daughter sustained facial burns requiring a year away from school for treatment.
Following this, Bower’s severe illness with COVID-19 in early 2020 further strained the family. At a time when testing was limited, Bower fell gravely ill, requiring intensive care and a protracted recovery affected by long COVID symptoms, including extended periods of incapacitation. Throughout these difficulties, Kaplinsky maintained a rigorous work schedule, balancing her professional responsibilities with family commitments. She has served as president of the British Board of Film Classification since 2022 and has expressed a preference for a busy and structured routine, often taking on numerous projects simultaneously.
Despite the end of their marriage, friends on both sides emphasize that neither Kaplinsky nor Bower bear blame for its failure. Observers note Bower’s desire for a more conventional family life contrasted with Kaplinsky’s ambitious career focus.
Looking ahead, those familiar with Kaplinsky anticipate that the change in her personal circumstances may herald a new phase in her career, potentially marked by increased involvement in public advocacy and charitable work. Kaplinsky has cited the late Dame Esther Rantzen—a fellow television presenter and campaigner who passed away recently—as a significant influence. Rantzen, known for her dedication to social causes, particularly around assisted dying, shared a close relationship with Kaplinsky, united by their shared cultural heritage and experiences in the media spotlight.
As Kaplinsky moves forward, industry insiders suggest she may channel her energy into initiatives that mirror Rantzen’s legacy, signaling a possible reemergence into public life with a renewed focus on activism and social impact.