The former BBC One Breakfast host announced the devastating news in a joint statement.
Former Strictly Come Dancing winner Natasha Kaplinsky is divorcing her husband of 20 years. The ex-BBC Breakfast host, who became the first winner of the BBC ballroom competition in 2004, and her investment banker ex-husband Justin Bower confirmed the news in a joint statement. They told the Daily Mail: “We can confirm that we have made the joint decision to end our marriage and our focus now is on our children.” The couple tied the knot in 2005 following a whirlwind three-month romance.
They lived in a beautiful Grade II listed 15th-century farmhouse in East Sussex, surrounded by 200 acres of land. In 2020, Kaplinsky opened up about the couple’s struggle to start a family.
She spoke about her journey to motherhood for the Channel 5 documentary Miscarriage: Our Story. She revealed: “Despite the heartache, hoping this film will give some comfort to those who are struggling,” she wrote online ahead of the broadcast.
Their son Arlo was born in September 2008, while their daughter Angelica Pearl, known as Kika, was born in April 2010. As recently as 2023, she was discussing renewing her wedding vows, admitting: “I’d love to.
“We did go to our local church on our tenth wedding anniversary with renewal in mind, but our children were screeching, so we’ve put it off for a bit.”
The TV presenter started her career on a youth chat show called F2F for Granada Talk TV in 1996. She then moved to present early morning news bulletins at Meridian before co-presenting Meridian Tonight just six months later.
Natasha Kaplinsky and Justin Bower married in 2005 just three months after meeting (Image: Getty)
In 1999, she moved to ITV’s London News Network and then, in November 2000, she joined Sky News, where she co-presented Sunrise and Live at Five. In 2002, she joined BBC Breakfast on the BBC, presenting Monday to Thursday alongside Dermot Murnaghan, before moving on to host BBC News at Six.
She then became only the third – and youngest – woman to present the BBC’s Ten O’Clock News in 2006. In 2008, she joined Five, and in 2011, she began her first presenting role with ITV.
Kaplinsky admitted she hadn’t initially wanted to do Strictly the Mirror: “I honestly tried every single excuse not to do it, but I was cajoled, and in the end, I ran out of excuses. I was absolutely petrified!”
She and pro dancer Brendan Cole sailed to triumph at 39 points ahead of the other finalist, EastEnders‘ Christopher Parker.
Natasha, who scored highest on her samba, went on to take on the presenting role during the second series, after stepping into Tess Daly’s shoes while she was on maternity leave.
She also made two more triumphant returns to the show – once in 2012 for the Christmas special, and again as recently as 2018, when she took part in the BAFTA tribute to Sir Bruce Forsyth.