Strictly Come Dancing's Alex Kingston's devastating four words after Ralph Fiennes left her
Before Alex Kingston found happiness with her current husband, the Doctor Who actress endured a painful split from an Oscar nominee after his affair with an older woman
Ralph Fiennes and Alex Kingston met in the 80s
(Image: NY Daily News via Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing's newest addition, Alex Kingston, has weathered a rocky romantic past before finding stability with her present husband.
The 62-year-old former Doctor Who star is preparing to captivate viewers on the BBC's cherished dancing competition.
Alex endeared herself to Doctor Who enthusiasts through her role as River Song, appearing alongside David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Peter Capaldi during their respective runs on the legendary science fiction programme.
Her distinguished television portfolio encompasses parts in the US medical series ER, costume dramas including The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, Arrow, and A Discovery of Witches.
The performer has always been candid about her enthusiasm for joining Strictly. Back in 2019, she admitted: "Sarah Hadland and I talked about how much we'd like to do Strictly Come Dancing. Then I discovered she's a trained ballet dancer. 'Hang on a minute! That's not fair!' So, I can't do it on a season when she is on it!", reports the Express.
Alex faced heartbreak when her relationship with Ralph Fiennes came to an end
(Image: Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Article continues below
Away from the cameras, Alex has endured her share of personal upheaval. She encountered Oscar-nominated performer Ralph Fiennes whilst studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1983.
The pair wed a decade later, though their union collapsed catastrophically when Ralph became involved with a woman 18 years his senior.
Looking back on their separation, Alex previously said: "We were like strangers - very fragile," according to the Mirror.
"His mother was dying and somehow we thought the wedding was going to heal everything. But that was crazy, of course."
In 1995, Ralph Fiennes took to the stage in Hamlet at Hackney Empire, starring opposite Francesca Annis—who portrayed Gertrude, his character's mother.
Despite their age difference, Ralph, who was 32 at the time, left his partner Alex to pursue a romance with 50-year-old Francesca Annis. It was reported Francesca, a mother of three with photographer Patrick Wiseman, left him for the actor.
Alex opened up about her emotional distress after their separation in an interview with the Daily Mail, sharing: "I was feeling worthless, that I would never find anyone else as good as my husband, which is ridiculous, but I had so little self-esteem."
She also reflected on the experience, saying: "Divorce is awful but it is also something I don't regret happening to me because it has shaped who I am now."
Alex is gearing up for Strictly 2025
(Image:for Pragnell)
Ralph and Francesca maintained a relationship for a decade from 1997 to 2006, brushing aside any concerns about their age gap.
Francesca once addressed the topic, saying: "Of course I don't spend days agonising over the age difference. How can I? There is nothing I can do about it,".
She added: "Ralph and I have been together ten years now so, whatever happens, we have had a very good, different relationship and an interesting time."
However, their relationship came under strain following allegations by Romanian singer Cornelia Crisan, who claimed she had a two-year affair with Ralph.
The day after the allegations surfaced, Ralph and Francesca announced their split, with a statement saying: "Miss Annis confirms today that she and Ralph Fiennes are to separate."
Ralph's unfaithfulness had a profound effect on Alex, who admitted to considering taking her own life.
She subsequently married German author Florian Haertel and the couple welcomed their daughter Salome in 2001.
Their union came to an end in 2009, with the divorce being finalised in 2013. Thankfully, Alex has since found joy again, now wedded to TV presenter Jonathan Stamp.
The couple exchanged vows in Italy in 2015.
Article continues below
Strictly Come Dancing is set to return to BBC later this year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
‘Astonishing' WWI film leaves viewers ‘totally enthralled' as it shares untold story
An unmissable wartime epic is coming to screens soon A WWI epic is set to land on BBC iPlayer imminently and stands as essential viewing for cinema enthusiasts, after fans have enjoyed a "heartbreaking" WWII film, reports the Daily Record. The picture debuted in 2011 and secured multiple Oscar nominations. Countless viewers have lauded the production on IMDb, with one contributor sharing a perfect 10/10 critique headlined: "A Stunning and Enthralling Epic." They elaborated: "The film is uncompromisingly sentimental, and I wasn't annoyed by it. Because it worked so well, it made me care about the story, the characters, the horses." They continued: "There are a lot of powerful scenes in the movie, from which I cried. It was just so moving, it showed the true consequences of war. Some of the battle sequences were simply fantastic and astonishing." Another glowing assessment bore the title: "A truly exceptional film about courage in both man and beast." The reviewer observed: "This is a wonderful "against all odds" inspirational story about courage and relationships. A horse of truly amazing spirit touches the lives of so many during War I - including British soldiers, German soldiers, French civilians and even other horses." A third viewer described the blockbuster as "simply delightful" and remarked: "I went to see this movie expecting NOT to like it. But, for 2 hours and 15 mins I was totally enthralled." A glowing review highlighted: "I was expecting this movie to be just another extravagant sentimental potboiler. Wow, was I surprised. This is a great movie. The title says the movie is about a horse, but it's really about a lot more than that. The horse plays a central role but the humans figure in the story too, in a big way." Helmed by the iconic Steven Spielberg, War Horse is a cinematic adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's 1982 novel and its acclaimed 2007 stage adaptation. The plot centres on young Albert Narracott (portrayed by Jeremy Irvine), who develops an intense connection with a horse named Joey, purchased at auction by his father. With the outbreak of World War I, Joey is conscripted into the cavalry, thrusting him into the war's frontlines. The film traces Joey's odyssey across the battlefields, offering a stark glimpse into the war's brutality from multiple perspectives. Albert, initially too youthful for military service, later enlists as a soldier to seek out Joey upon reaching enlistment age. Boasting a stellar ensemble cast featuring Emily Watson of Chernobyl fame, Benedict Cumberbatch known for Sherlock and Doctor Strange, Harry Potter's David Thewlis, Peter Mullan of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, Tom Hiddleston from The Night Manager, Toby Kebbell of Black Mirror, Robert Emms from Atlantis, and Eddie Marsan from Ray Donovan, War Horse stands as a must-watch spectacle. War Horse features Outlander: Blood of My Blood star Irvine, who portrays time traveller and WWI veteran Henry Beauchamp in the fresh Starz series. The Spielberg blockbuster served as the actor's first foray into feature films at the tender age of 21, having been handpicked from hundreds of hopefuls by the renowned Hollywood director. The Outlander prequel series made its debut last week, and fans can catch a glimpse of the star back in the trenches in the first two episodes of Blood of My Blood.
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
X Factor's Honey G showcases impressive weight loss after 'life-changing' moment
X Factor alum Honey G is back with a brand new tune and took to social media to showcase her dance moves alongside TV presenter Hayley Palmer Former X Factor star Honey G has shown off her impressive weight loss as she shared her latest song release. The rapper, 44, rose to fame on the popular ITV talent show in 2016. She has since candidly revealed she has struggled with her weight previously. However, she has now proudly confessed that she has dropped from a size 18 dress size to a size 12 - and claims it has upped her "body confidence". Honey, whose real name is Anna Gilford, was seen dancing to her new track titled Nothing To Me on a roof terrace in London. She was alongside TV presenter Hayley Palmer. It comes as the full Strictly Come Dancing lineup has been confirmed. Honey shared the clip on Instagram. She captioned the upload: "Our take on the Nothing to Me dance. Mine & @hayleypalmer_presenter 's rendition – my new single - dropping this Saturday!' She also added the hashtags 'shake your booty' and 'bootylicious'. In the video, Honey wore a small pair of floral-patterned shorts and a vest top. She also donned an oversized pair of sunglasses as she danced to the tune. Fans were quick to praise the star for her fun post. One user in the comments section gushed: "honey g your [sic] still an icon." They added two flame emojis. Another user also added a comment of four flame emojis, while another added: "Aww check yooooo," with a raised hands emoji. The TV personality previously explained she had "changed her body" after a series of gym routines during the Covid pandemic. She added she had also taken up running. Speaking to Daily Star in 2023, the musician said: "I had a personal trainer for a year and a half, almost two years and we worked a lot on strength training and I started to see, coupled with all the running I was doing, I started to see my body change." Honey confessed at the time: "That's why not a lot of people recognise me in the street anymore, it says online I'm unrecognisable which is true. "But yeah, I'm not saying I miss being chased through a shopping centre by school kids, but seriously, in all honesty, when I started to see body shape change, it spurred me on even more.' She also told Closer magazine: "I used to wear loose and baggy clothes that went up to a size 18, but I've thrown most of them away as my taste has matured. Now I wear outfits I wouldn't have dreamt of wearing, and I can fit into nice underwear from Victoria's Secret." Despite not being a regular on television these days, Honey G has kept herself busy. She has been seen performing at clubs and festivals throughout the UK.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Ross King brings foot bath to first day of Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals in a bid to avoid sore toes
It was only the first day of Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals yesterday – but some of the show's class of 2025 are already making sure their feet remain in pristine condition. Good Morning Britain and Lorraine's Los Angeles reporter Ross King even took a £30 Revlon Pediprep spa with him to the London studios. The device promises a 'relaxing, bubbling foot massage'. It is well known that celebrity contestants on the BBC show suffer bruises and lost toenails as they compete for the glitter ball trophy. King, 63, was joined at the rehearsals by his new co-stars, including former England rugby captain Chris Robshaw, 39, and La Voix, 45, star of RuPaul 's Drag Race UK and broadcaster Dani Dyer, 29, daughter of ex-EastEnders star Danny. Meanwhile, former England women's footballer Karen Carney, 38, and Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, 49, were yesterday announced to complete the line-up of the new series, which starts next month on BBC One. Nairn, who stands at 6ft 9ins, is perhaps the show's tallest contestant ever. He played Hodor in the HBO fantasy series and is also known for his role as Wee John Feeney in the HBO comedy Our Flag Means Death. Amongst the celebrities gearing up for practice was former The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner [right] Among the celebrities gearing up for practice was former The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, who earlier in the day had hit back at 'woke' critics complaining of his signing to the show. Critics had demanded the BBC revoke his invite to join Strictly Come Dancing 2025 because he met JD Vance, with some Strictly fans bombarding the Beeb with complaints and vowing to boycott the show. Taking to X on Friday, Thomas, 34, addressed the backlash, penning: 'Some call me 'controversial,' but I think it's just a dig at normal, hard-working people if I'm honest. But we don't let that stop us. We keep going, we look out for each other, and we use it to drive us forward.' In his message, he shared his excitement as heading filming Strictly for the first time, noting he was 'proud as anything', before thanking his fans for their support. Thomas also revealed he has to 'keep the wheels' and work as he's got three kids and a wife to support, before cheerfully signing off and inviting anyone local to have 'a pint' with him later. The businessman flashed a dazzling smile as she climbed out of his car and joined his fellow stars for the start of their Strictly journey. Meanwhile, the Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers were on fine form as they too arrived, led by Dianne Buswell. The flame-haired beauty was certainly in great spirits as she turned up alongside the likes of Nancy Xu and brand new pros Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon. Meanwhile, Nadiya Bychkova was seen for the first time since her horror fall earlier this week. The Ukrainian dancer, 35, was reportedly taken to hospital on Tuesday after falling and landing on her back during rehearsals. The star was training in north London when she was left in agony after injuring her back, with crew forced to phone an ambulance. However, after updating her fans on her condition, the blonde bombshell was back to her best as she joined her fellow pros for rehearsals.
