Paul Hollywood’s Ex-Wife Once Revealed Why She Took the ‘GBBO’ Judge Back After His Very Public Affair
Paul Hollywood had a very public affair when he started working on the American version of the Great British Bake Off. Despite Hollywood’s infidelity, his wife Alexandra took him back. Their reconciliation did not last long, though.
The couple split for the final time in 2017 and their marriage ended in divorce. Why did Hollywood’s ex-wife give him a second chance?
Paul Hollywood had an affair with co-star Marcela Valladolid
After the Great British Bake Off found success in the UK, an American version was put into production known as The American Baking Competition. Hollywood was the only member of the GBBO cast who went across the pond to take part in the show’s American counterpart.
Jeff Foxworthy hosted The American Baking Competition, with Hollywood as a judge alongside chef Marcela Valladolid.
Due to poor ratings, the series lasted just one season on CBS before it was canceled. However, while they were filming the show’s seven episodes, Hollywood and Valladolid had a brief affair.
Hollywood called the affair ‘the biggest mistake of my life’
At the time of Hollywood’s affair with Valladolid, he had been married to his wife Alexandra for 15 years.
The couple met in Cyprus when he was the head baker at a five-star hotel. They later married and welcomed a son named Josh.
In an interview with Radio 5 Live in 2013, Hollywood admitted the affair and said that he and Alexandra had split. The baker called it the biggest mistake of his life.
“I did have an affair in America with my co-judge and it was something which… it was the biggest mistake of my life, because actually I still love my wife,” Hollywood said at the time, according to The Independent.
Paul Hollywood’s wife took him back
The GBBO star went on to say that he “deserved” the bad press he was getting, and accepted it as “punishment” for his actions. He also admitted that he didn’t expect anyone to care.
“I didn’t think anyone was interested in me for a start which is why I was shocked about the whole thing kicking off the way it did,” Hollywood said.
He added that he and Alexandra were talking and working on getting back together. And, that’s exactly what ended up happening. The couple reconciled, moved on, and got to a “much better place.” At least for a while. They split again in 2017, and the marriage ended in divorce.
Alexandra says she ‘lost herself’ in the marriage
Alexandra opened up about her 20-marriage to Hollywood and their subsequent split during an interview with The Sunday Telegraph.
She admits that she “lost herself” and “made sacrifices” in her marriage.
“When you get married and have children, it’s easy to lose yourself,” Alexandra explained. “I’m not complaining because I was happy, but then someone else rips everything up and it wakes you up to who you are and what you have become and what sacrifices you’ve made.”
Paul Hollywood’s ex-wife explains why she gave him a second chance
Paul and Alexandra’s brief split in 2013 resulted in a £1.4million payout for her before their reconciliation. She says that she decided to give her husband a second chance for the sake of their son.
“I stand by that decision. I believed in my marriage, I wanted to make it work,” Hollywood’s ex-wife said.
She went on to say that despite the marriage ending years ago, the divorce was still very painful for her. Alexandra says it’s been difficult, but she’s “not broken.”
“Divorce hurts. I was married for 20 years. But you keep going,” she concluded.
