Janet Street-Porter Celebrates Fifth Marriage at Age 79
Television personality and Loose Women panellist Janet Street-Porter has announced her marriage to long-term boyfriend Peter Spanton, marking her fifth trip down the aisle at the age of 79. The revelation was made during Monday's episode of the popular daytime TV show, leaving her fellow panellists visibly astonished. This latest union represents another chapter in what has been a remarkably colourful and eventful romantic history for the outspoken broadcaster.
A Relationship History Spanning Decades
Janet Street-Porter's romantic journey has been characterised by multiple marriages, numerous relationships, and one partnership that endured for more than a quarter of a century. She has previously been remarkably candid about her marital experiences, describing one union as both a "mistake" and a "mid-life crisis" that she regretted within twenty-four hours. As she embarks on this new marital adventure, we reflect on the significant relationships that have defined her personal life.
First Marriage: Tim Street-Porter
Her initial foray into marriage began with photographer and student Tim Street-Porter, whom she met at age 19 while studying architecture at London's Architectural Association School. They married in 1967 and remained together until 1975. Interestingly, Janet revealed in 2021 that she was actually engaged to an architect named Rex when she first met Tim, who promptly suggested she end that engagement. In her 2007 autobiography, she noted they shared interests in music, art, and films, but confessed to having "several affairs" before their separation.
Second Marriage: Tony Elliott
In the same year her divorce from Tim was finalised, Janet married Tony Elliott, the founder and editor of Time Out magazine. This marriage lasted merely two years, with Janet later declaring it a mutual error. She recounted on Loose Women that within a day of their wedding, they both agreed the marriage was a mistake, questioning why they had transformed a great friendship into matrimony. Despite the brief union, they remained friends until Tony's death in 2020, with Janet even maintaining a cordial relationship with his subsequent wife.
Third Marriage: Frank Cvitanovich
The year 1979 saw Janet marry documentary filmmaker Frank Cvitanovich, who was nineteen years her senior. Like Janet, Frank would eventually be married five times. Their marriage lasted only two years before, as Janet explained, it simply "fizzled out." She attributed part of the dissolution to the profound impact of Frank's son's death from cancer, which left him unable to be around children and plunged him into severe depression that she felt compelled to nurse him through.
Fourth Marriage: David Sorkin
In what she has openly labelled a "big, big mistake," Janet married 27-year-old David Sorkin in 1997 when she was 50. The impetuous wedding took place in Las Vegas at 3:30am, merely weeks after they met at a party. She has since characterised this union as a "mid-life crisis" and a "cry for help," noting it was the only marriage she has tried to "airbrush out" of her history. The couple regretted the marriage almost immediately but had to wait a full year before obtaining a divorce.
Long-Term Relationship with Normski
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Janet was in a four-year relationship with DJ and photographer Normski (real name Norman Anderson), who was twenty years her junior. At the time, Normski was presenting the BBC's DEF II and was known for his flamboyant style, including driving a gold-plated BMW. The couple lived together throughout their relationship.
Fifth Marriage: Peter Spanton
Janet's most enduring relationship has been with restaurateur Peter Spanton, whom she has been with since 1999. The couple has largely kept their relationship private, making the marriage announcement on 2 February 2026 particularly surprising. In a video shared with the Loose Women panel, Janet stood alongside Peter and their dog Badger to reveal they had wed on 31 January. She declared, "I finally did it. I waited to the last for the best." Her fellow panellists—Kaye Adams, Sue Cleaver, Brenda Edwards, and Nadia Sawalha—responded with delighted applause to the news.
Janet Street-Porter's marital history reflects a life lived with considerable passion and occasional impulsivity. From teenage engagements to late-life weddings, her relationships have consistently captured public attention. With her fifth marriage now officially confirmed, she continues to defy conventional expectations about love and commitment later in life.
