Brian and Kerry announce divorce

Pop star Brian McFadden has told the News of the World that his two year marriage is over

12:51 03 October 2004

Pop star Brian McFadden has told the News of the World that his two year marriage to former Atomic Kitten singer, Kerry is over.

The former Westlife star told the paper that the decision to divorce was a mutual one and that there was little chance of reconciliation.

The couple have two daughters, Molly aged three and 18-month-old Lily Sue.

"We split two Mondays ago but decided to go public this week because the story leaked out that Kerry was buying a house in Warrington" said Mr McFadden, whose first solo single went to number one last month.

"It's not likely we'll get back together. We'll divorce. But we haven't talked details because at the moment, for the sake of the kids, we just want to get our lives straight. We're going to have joint custody of the girls."

Mr McFadden confirmed that he had not seen his wife for five weeks and that the relationship had ended over the phone.

Yesterday, his estranged wife appeared to contradict Mr McFadden's claim that the decision to spit was a mutual one. "Remember, he left ME. I did NOT leave him. That's all there is to say about it," Mrs McFadden told the News of the World.

Close friends of the couple believe that the relationship breakdown stems from the revelation that the former boy band pin-up romped with a lapdancer just hours before his wedding.

"The lapdancer obviously caused huge difficulties in their marriage. It's not the whole reason for the problem but it played a part," Mr McFadden's public relations adviser, Max Clifford told the paper.