Coronation Street actress Kym Ryder and her husband Jack have announced that they are to separate after six years of marriage.
The couple, who were married in 2002, said the split was "amicable" and that no-one else was involved in the break-up.
A statement released by ITV said: "With great sadness, Kym and Jack Ryder have decided to separate after seven years together. Their separation is amicable and they remain friends, with Jack continuing to see Kym's children, David and Emily.
"There is no-one else involved in the break up of their marriage. Neither Jack nor Kym will be commenting further to the press, and in consideration of the children's emotional welfare they have requested the media respect their privacy on this occasion."
It was with the band Hear'Say on the TV show Popstars in 2001, that 31-year-old Kym first came to public attention.
During her time with Hear'Say, the band sold 1.2m copies of their debut album, however Kym quit the band a year later amid reports of clashes with Myleene Klass.
Despite embarking on a brief solo career, which saw her reach Number Two in the UK charts, she was later dropped from her record label.
Twenty-six-year-old Jack Ryder shot to fame as Jamie Mitchell in 'EastEnders' from 1998 to 2002 and first met Kym in a BBC canteen while Hear'Say were on 'Top of the Pops' in 2001.
The couple were then married in 2002, with Jack quitting 'EastEnders' shortly after.
Since then Jack has for the most part remained off screen, while Kym has carved out a new career as Michelle Connor in 'Coronation Street'.
