Janet Street-Porter and Peter Spanton have reflected on their long-standing relationship, which spans over 27 years and culminated in marriage earlier this year. The couple, who live between London and Norfolk, spoke candidly about the origins of their partnership and how it has evolved over time.
Their first encounter dates back to the late 1980s at Vic Naylor’s bar in Clerkenwell, where Spanton was managing the venue. At the time, Street-Porter was heavily involved with Channel 4’s Network 7 and rarely visited the bar, despite its proximity to her home. It was only through mutual acquaintances, including artist Sam Taylor-Wood and art dealer Jay Jopling, that Street-Porter eventually began frequenting the establishment.
Spanton recalls those early days as a turbulent period marked by heavy drinking and a somewhat chaotic lifestyle. “I was deep into a very louche and unmoored lifestyle,” he said. He described himself as “living in this half haze of booze,” which he admitted was not conducive to a stable relationship. Their connection sparked following Street-Porter’s separation from her fourth husband, when she quickly asserted the relationship, leading to them living together shortly afterward.
For her part, Street-Porter acknowledged the challenges they faced as a couple, particularly in balancing demanding careers and personal habits. She noted a significant turning point in 1999 when she took on the editorship of The Independent on Sunday. The increased scrutiny and responsibilities motivated lifestyle adjustments, particularly for Spanton, to support the success of her new role.
Despite their differences—Spanton’s relaxed nature contrasted with Street-Porter’s strong-willed and competitive personality—the pair share interests in entertaining, cooking, and music. Street-Porter described Spanton as “really clever” with a “positive disposition,” while also noting their occasional irritations with one another’s habits. Spanton has since retrained as a counselor, a development Street-Porter finds both amusing and frustrating.
They married quietly in January in Great Yarmouth near their Norfolk home, accompanied by only a few witnesses and their border terrier, Badger. Street-Porter, who has been married four times previously, emphasized that each of her marriages was successful in its own way and views divorce as a natural resolution rather than a failure. She also explained that the decision to marry after nearly three decades together was made out of a desire to bring Spanton happiness.
Maintaining separate residences much of the week—with Spanton in Norfolk and Street-Porter in London for her work on Loose Women—has been an important aspect of their relationship dynamics. Both acknowledge the necessity of space, given their strong personalities. “He’s got a strong personality, so we both need space,” Street-Porter said, adding that their differences in temperament complement each other, likening their relationship to a “nice cop, bad cop” dynamic.
Age and maturity have introduced new challenges, with Street-Porter noting a need for greater pragmatism and flexibility. Despite this, she describes Spanton as “much nicer” than herself and remarked on his ease in engaging with others socially, a quality she does not share. Spanton expressed affection for their life together, acknowledging the unconventional beginning and the sustained connection that has endured over decades.