Martine McCutcheon announced she has split from her husband Jack McManus after 18 years together.

The former EastEnders star wrote the heartbreaking announcement on her social media page and revealed it was her husband’s idea to part ways.

She said:

“After much thought and consideration, Jack has decided it’s best for us to separate after 18 years together and I accept his decision. We are both so very blessed and grateful for our beautiful, 9-year-old son Rafferty, whose happiness and welfare, have always been, and will continue to be, our number one priority.

“We both of course, still cherish and look forward to being parents together to our wonderful boy for the rest of our lives… Whilst this decision has evolved over a period of time, we are still finding our new way forward as a family and kindly ask for some privacy at this time… Especially for our little boy.

“Our love for Rafferty is something that will never, waver, or change and we obviously want to protect him and help him feel as safe and secure as possible.

Many thanks in advance for your respect and support, at this difficult time… And I continue to send Jack, all the love, luck and happiness for the next chapter of his.

“Rafferty and I (as always,) are rooting for you! Thank you all, for the love and support, now and always… Martine.xx.” The Love Actually star and Jack first got together in the early 2000s after meeting at a live music venue in Piccadilly and officially married in 2012.

The couple, who were weeks away from their wedding anniversary, welcomed their son Rafferty in 2015. Last month, Martine shared a cryptic post about “letting go” and “giving them space”.

She posted a message on social media that read: “Let go. Love them from a distance. Let them figure out their feelings, what they want in life, where they’re going, and who they want to be.

Focus on yourself and your goals while you’re giving them space. And remember, you’re not obligated to still be there waiting when they’re ready.”

Martine and Jack tied the knot in Lake Como, Italy, after he proposed by getting down on one knee during snowy weather at London’s Embankment. She said the area is one of her favourite places ‘in the world’ and revealed there ‘wasn’t another soul around’ when he proposed.

“There was something truly magical about it,” Martine said at the time. After their wedding, the star told HELLO! that her husband accidentally set her veil on fire. She explained: “I wish we’d have practised talking in the microphone because my husband set my veil on fire when he put the microphone down on the table, and then I had to reach over the candelabra to reach the microphone and get it.

“And you literally see someone’s hands in the video, like putting out the fire on my veil. So I wish we’d gone through the vows.”

The couple marked their tenth anniversary by renewing their vows at the Beaverbrook Hotel in September 2022. Their son was by their side for the special occasion.

Rafferty helped pick the music playlist and wore a tuxedo which matched Jack’s. Martine had planned to get Rafferty some shoes for the occasion, but he wanted to wear his red Converse.

“It was along the lines of… We’ve been together for 15 years, we’ve worked together, played together, we’re parents together, we’re husband and wife and he has been there for me when things haven’t been shiny, glossy, beautiful and perfect – far from it,” she explained at the time.

Earlier this month, everything seemed fine with the couple when she paid tribute to him on his 40th birthday with a slew of loved-up photos and a lengthy caption. She wrote: “Darling Jack, Happy 40th Birthday Darling.

I know it’s a weird one and bittersweet as you have lost your Darling Dad, Mick and he was your best friend… It’s so hard to see you miss someone so much, but you know when I lost my brother that I understand your grief and pain – And I also know that in time, You will value the gift of even having him be such a major role in your life and that he will be with you always.”

She went on to share a tribute to both Mick and Jack as she praised his strength before telling him he is “so very loved” and that he “makes life better for many.”

She ended the post with: “I hope you feel the love around you today and know, that despite it all, you have the most amazing and rewarding next chapter coming your way! Now, deep breath, let’s have some fun with our boy!”

Fans were less than impressed by the lengthy post and rushed to the comment section to slam her for not sending him a personal message. One user said: “Probably would have been best to text him personally rather than splash it all over Instagram for likes.” Others simply wished him a happy birthday.