Janet Street-Porter Opens Up About Marriage Counselling with 'Crazy' Ex-Husband
Television personality Janet Street-Porter has candidly shared details of her tumultuous fourth marriage, revealing that she and her ex-husband sought marriage counselling in a futile attempt to salvage their relationship. The 79-year-old broadcast legend, who recently married for the fifth time, made these revelations during an episode of ITV's Loose Women.
Counseling Session That Predicted Failure
On the show, Street-Porter recounted her experience with marriage counselling, describing her ex-husband as a "crazy person." She explained that the counsellor saw them separately and later advised her that the marriage was unlikely to succeed. "She told me it wasn't gonna work. And she was so right!" Street-Porter stated, highlighting the accuracy of the professional's assessment.
Reflections on Past Marriages and Recent Wedding
Street-Porter's marital history includes four previous unions before her recent marriage to long-term partner Peter Spanton. Her fourth marriage was to David Sorkin in 1997, which ended after just two years. She described this period as a "midlife crisis" and a "cry for help," noting that it was the only marriage she has "airbrushed out" due to its chaotic nature, including an incident where Sorkin squirted her with salad cream during an argument.
In contrast, her fifth wedding to Spanton was a quiet, private affair that left her feeling "nervous" due to past regrets. "I'd messed up the last one. That was a really, really bad mistake," she admitted, expressing relief that the recent ceremony went smoothly and was "lovely" for Spanton, who had never been married before.
Panel Reactions and Personal Insights
The Loose Women panel, including Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan, and Oti Mabuse, engaged in a discussion about seeking external advice for marital issues. Upon learning of Street-Porter's new marriage via a video message, co-hosts like Brenda Edwards and Kaye Adams celebrated her happiness, with Edwards emphasizing, "It doesn't matter, she's got happiness – stop counting the numbers."
Street-Porter also disclosed that she had to use her previous married name during the wedding, which added to her anxiety. Despite this, she described the registry office as empty and the ceremony as quick, concluding with joy: "We are absolutely thrilled."
