Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has been granted a divorce from his wife of 28 years today in a hearing that lasted just 90 seconds.
The 50-year-old Michelin-starred chef split from wife Zanna - real name Susanna – in 2011 after a self-confessed life crisis.
The Fat Duck chef, known for his experimental culinary creations, dated American actress turned cookery writer Suzanne Pirret for five years after his marriage broke down, and is now romantically linked to French real-estate broker Stephanie Gouveia.
The estranged couple, who wed in 1989, have talked openly about their marital difficulties in the past.
Blumenthal credited his wife with helping him on the road to success, which included selling their home to buy the pub that became his flagship The Fat Duck restaurant in 1995.
The chef, who has three Michelin stars, said: “Zanna is the biggest reason for the success of the restaurant. She has been the one doing the sacrificing in order to support what I wanted to do.”
However he ended the marriage in 2011 after a self-confessed crisis when he said he was questioning everything in his life.
At Central London Family Court this morning, the estranged couple finally ended their marriage when District Judge Anne Hudd granted a decree nisi.
Listed alongside 13 other couples, the judge took just 90 seconds to approve the divorces.
Mrs Blumenthal, 52, who filed for divorce, is believed to have cited irreconcilable differences for the split.
Neither of the couple, who have three grown-up children together, were present for today’s brief court hearing.
The decree nisi will take effect after 28 days to finalise the divorce.
