Yahoo News Samantha Womack and husband Mark split two years ago but still live together
Samantha Womack has revealed that she and husband Mark split in 2018 but have remained living together since ending their marriage.
The former EastEnders actor says the arrangement to reside side-by-side in the family home works for them and there is "no rush" to change.
“Our family home is big enough and we’re co-existing happily,” she told OK! Magazine.
“There’s no rush to change things.
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“But now feels like the right time to be honest and admit we’re no longer together.”
Samantha said they had decided to publicly reveal the status of their relationship due to media interest after Mark's recent stint as corrupt police officer DI Mark Malone in Emmerdale.
Their romance began when they both starred in ITV drama Liverpool 1, and they tied the knot 10 years into their relationship in 2009.
The couple share two children, son Benjamin, 19, and daughter Lili-Rose, 15. Meanwhile, Mark has a son, Michael, 25, from a previous relationship.
Samantha said they decided to end their marriage two years ago after realising they "wanted different things" from the next chapter of their lives.
They've explained the situation to their children and remain on good terms, she said.
The Ronnie Mitchell star added: "It's bizarre but these have probably been the best years we've had as a family. It sounds cheesy but Mark's still my soulmate, it's just our marriage is over. Our relationship has just taken a different route."
The pair have been dating other people but Samantha said they would not be discussing new romances publicly unless it "feels serious".
It comes after several of Samantha's former EastEnders co-stars recently split from their spouses.
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The soap's longest-serving actor Adam Woodyatt separated from his wife Beverley Sharp last year, it was confirmed last week.
Meanwhile, Rita Simons, who played Samantha's onscreen sister Roxy Mitchell, has ended her relationship with husband Theo Silveston.
