Susie Dent has split from her husband of almost 20 years.
Susie Dent
The 'Countdown' star has been living apart from Paul Atkins -with whom she has two daughters - for the last year but the pair are on amicable terms and the 56-year-old lexicographer has been focusing on her work as best as she can.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “It’s obviously a very sad situation, but Susie has handled everything stoically.
“She has ploughed on professionally with all aspects of her working life and is simply trying to make the most of a heartbreaking scenario.
“Obviously Susie and Paul did all they could to make things work, but decided in the end to part ways.”
The language expert has been a fixture on 'Countdown' for over 29 years and though she admitted she doesn't imagine her job on the game show will last forever, she's got no plans to quit any time soon.
She said: “I’m sure I won’t be there forevermore, as much as I’d love to be.
“As long as they’ll have me, I’ll be there because I do absolutely love it. It's such a brilliant gig to have and it's just an ongoing source of learning for me, I just never stop.
“I do love it and hopefully there aren't people longing for my replacement when they watch it.
“I'm hoping that people will [put up] with me for a bit longer."
And Susie - who is joined on the show by maths whizz Rachel Riley and new host Anne Robinson - thinks she has the best job in the world.
She gushed: “I'm so lucky, genuinely. I know it's a cliché for people to say, ‘I have the luckiest gig in the world and the luckiest job’ but I honestly do.”
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