Rachel Stevens was just one of the celebrities who took part in this year’s Dancing On Ice.

The 44 year old joined the likes of Coronation Street legend Sally Dynevor, Love Island's Liberty Poole and Happy Mondays’ Bez to compete in the next series of the ITV skating show.

Rachel rose to fame as one-seventh of noughties pop band S Club 7 which led to her being voted FHM’s Sexiest Woman in the World.

At the time of her skating debut, the singer had been happily married to husband Alex Bourne for a number of years, but the pair have since announced that they're going their separate ways.

Announcing the news of their shock split, Rachel penned on social media: "I just wanted to share with you all that after time and consideration the difficult decision has been made for Alex and I to separate.

"While we are no longer partners in marriage, we will remain partners in parenthood to our beautiful girls and continue with love and respect for each other.

"I feel so incredibly grateful for the life we built together and will now continue to be focused on moving forward united as a family."

With the news of their separation in mind, we look into the pair's relationship over the years…

Rachel opened up about how she met her now-ex partner during a segment on Loose Women last year, explaining how they first dated while still at school.

She said: "We were boyfriend and girlfriend when we were 12.

“We were boyfriend and girlfriend on and off during our teens until I got into the band, and he went off and did his stuff."

"Then we bumped into each other randomly in our late twenties," she went on. "And at that point, I'd sworn off men, but it was really lovely to see him.”

Rachel was fresh from calling off her engagement to actor Jeremy Edwards following four years of dating.

However, after reconnecting with Alex, who works as an actor, it wasn’t long before they were a couple again.

She said: "But I was going off to LA at the time, so no, but then we reconnected. We obviously had all of that history and now, the rest is history.”

Sweet Dreams My LA Ex hitmaker Rachel posted a gorgeous tribute to her husband on Valentine's Day of last year, sharing a number of photos of themselves through their relationship with her 282,000 Instagram followers.

She wrote: “Puppy love, young love, first love, true love, forever and always love. @alexbeebourne Happy Valentine’s Day."

Rachel married Alex at London hotel Claridges in 2009 and the couple share two children together, Amelie, 11, and Minnie, eight.

READ MORE:

  • S Club star Jo O' Meara shows off huge sleeve tattoo on red carpet with Rachel Stevens

  • Rachel Stevens 'isn't a pushy show mum' as her 11 year old daughter lands West End role

  • Dancing On Ice's Rachel Stevens is third star to leave ITV show after 'horrible' skate-off

  • Inside the tragic death that sparked Rachel Stevens' split from Jeremy Edwards

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