Rachel Stevens admits separating from her ex-husband Alex Bourne felt like 'jumping off a cliff' as she details moving on with Dancing On Ice partner Brendyn Hatfield
Rachel Stevens has admitted splitting from her ex-husband Alex Bourne felt like 'jumping off a cliff.
The S Club star, 46, lifted the lid on separating from Alex during an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour on Thursday.
The singer also revealed what it was like to step out in a new relationship with her former Dancing On Ice partner Brendyn Hatfield.
She announced she had split from her childhood sweetheart, Alex, in July 2022, just one month shy of their 13-year anniversary.
Rachel went official with skater Brandyn in November 2023 after first being paired together on the ITV show and striking up a friendship in early 2022.
Rachel Stevens has admitted splitting from her ex-husband Alex Bourne felt like 'jumping off a cliff (pictured together in 2017)
Rachel went official with skater Brandyn in November 2023 after first being paired together on the ITV show and striking up a friendship in early 2022 (pictured on the show in February 2022)
Speaking about the split, she admitted: 'It's a lot of navigating, especially with the girls because they've always been at the forefront.
'I'm very lucky, their dad is a great dad and we've always been so aligned with keeping them really safe in it and being really honest.
'We've had great advice on how to age-appropriately speak to them and help them feel safe in it all, because that was my biggest fear - how they are going to be in all of this.'
The former couple share two daughters, Amelie, 12, and Minnie, nine.
She continued: 'You're changing your life. It's not only a marriage it's a family around it, it's your friendship groups, your home, your children.
'Changing your whole life, for me it felt like jumping off a cliff, like wow, it's the unknown.
'But I've always believed that we have to be happy, we have to be true to ourselves and it's not something you decide overnight, it's something that takes so much thought and questioning.
'I haven't talked about it a lot publicly because I'm so mindful of everyone involved.'
Presenter Anita Rani then went on to ask the S Club star about what it was like stepping out with Brendyn Hatfield.
Rachel announced she had split from her childhood sweetheart, Alex, in July 2022, just one month shy of their 13-year anniversary (pictured together in 2018)
Speaking about the split, she admitted: 'It's a lot of navigating, especially with the girls because they've always been at the forefront' (Rachel pictured leaving the studio)
She added: 'Changing your whole life, for me it felt like jumping off a cliff, like wow, it's the unknown'
Earlier this year Rachel and Brendyn looked every inch of the loved-up couple as they cosied up together in a rare Instagram snap
Rachel said: 'We've just been really mindful and thoughtful of everyone involved and it was a very slow process, but when you go through growth in your life, you change and your outlook on life changes.
'You realise this is what I need, this is what I want, this is what I deserve. And everything is new and it all just kind of happens.'
She added: 'It all just evolves and it's not black and white, it's just an amazing growth experience.'
It comes after Rachel revealed how falling for Brendyn led to her 'messy' split from Alex.
Announcing the news of her divorce Rachel wrote: 'I just wanted to share with you all that after time and consideration the difficult decision has been made for Alex and I to separate'
Speaking to The Sun she admitted: '[The split] was messy. I knew that we were growing, that I was growing apart, but I was in turmoil, because first of all my kids'.
Rachel went on to recall how she felt telling now ex-husband Alex about Brendyn admitting: 'It was really scary, because I knew as soon as I said that, that was it.'
Rachel and Brendyn were unfortunately among the first couples to be eliminated from the skating series, leaving the competition in Week 4, however they didn't allow that to sour their relationship.
A source said at the time: 'Rachel had a really great friendship and partnership with Brendyn and it keeps developing...she wasn’t expecting to find love again at this stage in her life but she’s feeling positive about what’s to come and hopeful about a new start.'
Announcing the news of her divorce Rachel wrote on Instagram: 'I just wanted to share with you all that after time and consideration the difficult decision has been made for Alex and I to separate.
'While we are no longer partners in marriage, we will remain partners in parenthood to our beautiful girls and continue with love and respect for each other.
'I feel so incredibly grateful for the life we built together and will now continue to be focused on moving forward united as a family.'
Rachel and Alex, who were childhood sweethearts and met again in adulthood, married at Claridge's in London in 2009.
The pair walked down the aisle to S Club 7's hit Never Had A Dream Come True and her bandmates - Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O'Meara, Jon Lee, Paul Cattermole and Tina Barrett - were there to watch them say 'I do'.
The singer was on Woman's Hour to promote her new book Finding My Voice, which is a memoir about her life.
She described the experience of writing the book, which hit the shelves on Thursday, as a 'real process to unravel everything and put the pieces back together and be serious about self-development and self-growth'.
