Saatchi to divorce Nigella in wake of restaurant argument publicity

It ended just as it began — in the public eye.

In a statement to a Sunday newspaper, millionaire art collector Charles Saatchi announced he has made the “heartbreaking” decision to divorce TV chef Nigella Lawson after pictures showed him holding her by the throat as they had an argument on a restaurant terrace.

TV chef Nigella Lawson grabbed by throat in astonishing bust-up with husband Charles Saatchi. Our shocking pictures pic.twitter.com/ims40wZq0h

— The Sunday People (@thesundaypeople) June 15, 2013

Saatchi, who accepted a police caution for assault, said he had “clearly been a disappointment” to his wife, adding the couple have “become estranged and drifted apart” over the last year.

“I am sorry to announce that Nigella Lawson and I are getting divorced,” he told the newspaper.

“I feel I have clearly been a disappointment to Nigella during the last year or so, and I am disappointed that she was advised to make no public comment to explain that I abhor violence of any kind against women, and have never abused her physically in any way.

“This is heartbreaking for both of us as our love was very deep, but in the last year we have become estranged and drifted apart.”

Photographs of Lawson, 53, and Saatchi, 70, were published last month which showed him holding her by the throat as they had an argument on the terrace of a restaurant.

Saatchi dismissed the incident as nothing more than “a playful tiff”.

Lawson, who has subsequently been pictured without her wedding ring, has described him as “the exploder” in the past due to his temper.

Lawson’s spokesman said: “There is no comment from Nigella.”

In his statement, Saatchi insisted his actions were not violent, saying that while he had his hands around Lawson’s neck “there was no pressure applied to her”. He said the pictures gave a “wholly different and incorrect implication”.

“I am sorry that we had a row. I am sorry she was upset. I am even more sorry that this is the end of our marriage,” he told the newspaper.

Lawson married Saatchi, who made his name in advertising, in 2003. She has two children, Cosima and Bruno, from her marriage to journalist John Diamond, who died of throat cancer in 2001.

Other bust-ups

*British actress Minnie Driver’s relationship with Hollywood A-lister Matt Damon started on the set of their 1997 film Good Will Hunting.

But it came to a halt later that year when Damon split with the star in front of millions of viewers on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

*Glamour model Katie Price announced she was parting from cage fighter Alex Reid during a interview after ending her second appearance on I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here in 2009.

Reid had flown to Australia to propose.

*Eighties pop star David van Day split from journalist girlfriend Sue Moxley live on Five’s The Wright Stuff in March 2009.

After detailing a failed romantic evening between the two, he looked at the camera and said “you’ve been dumped”, to boos from the audience, after claiming she would be watching the show.

The couple reconciled.

*Former Chelsea football star Gus Poyet learned he had been sacked as manager of Championship side Brighton on live television last month.

— Ryan Hooper