Natasha Kaplinsky and her husband Justin Bower have decided to end their marriage after 21 years together. The former BBC Breakfast presenter, 54, and her husband, an investment banker, described the separation as a “joint decision,” emphasizing that their priority remains the well-being of their two teenage children.

Kaplinsky, who gained prominence as the inaugural winner of the television competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, wed Bower in 2005 after a brief three-month courtship. The couple has maintained a relatively private family life, residing on a farm in Uckfield, East Sussex. In 2023, Kaplinsky had expressed interest in renewing their wedding vows; however, those plans were ultimately abandoned.

Earlier this year, the couple listed their ski chalet in the French Alps for sale at £2.7 million, signaling a potential change in their family’s lifestyle. A close associate described Kaplinsky as “devastated” by the break-up, underscoring the emotional strain of the separation despite its mutual nature.

Kaplinsky currently serves as the president of the British Board of Film Classification, a role that marks her ongoing presence in the public and professional sphere. Both she and Bower appear focused on co-parenting as they navigate the next chapter following the end of their marriage.