Natasha Kaplinsky and Justin Bower Announce Divorce After 20 Years of Marriage Former BBC newsreader and Strictly Come Dancing champion Natasha Kaplinsky has separated from her husband Justin Bower, ending over two decades of marriage. The couple, both 54, focus on their children as they finalize their divorce. Natasha Kaplinsky, the former BBC newsreader who was the first television journalist to command a reported salary of one million pounds a year and who claimed the glitterball trophy in the debut series of Strictly Come Dancing, has announced that she has separated from her husband, investment banker Justin Bower. The couple, both aged 54, have been married for more than twenty years and are parents to two teenage children. They are now in the process of finalising their divorce and have stated that they are focusing on the wellbeing of their children.Natasha Kaplinsky And Justin Bower Marriage EndsThe news first appeared in the Daily Mail, which reported that Kaplinsky and Bower are choosing to end their marriage after a long and apparently loving relationship that began when she was a presenter on BBC One's Breakfast programme in 2005. The two had met during a whirlwind romance and wed three months later in a ceremony at St Margaret's Chapel on the grounds of Babington House in Somerset.The wedding, attended by 100 friends and family, was described as "the most incredible day of their lives" by their spokesperson. Over the years the couple owned a large property in the French Alps - a five‑bedroom ski chalet that they put on the market for £2.7 million - and lived on a Sussex farm that housed pygmy goats, sheep, alpacas and a cow named Mabel. Kaplinsky's career has been marked by several high‑profile milestones.She joined Five News in 2007 on a reported one‑million‑pound‑per‑year deal, a record salary for a newsreader at the time. She has returned to the BBC to present the Six O'Clock News and has been involved in charity work, serving as president of the British Board of Film Classification and as an ambassador for Save the Children.Kaplinsky Strictly Come Dancing And Farm LifeShe also earned a place in the spotlight as a co‑presenter of the first two series of Strictly Come Dancing and as a regular host on Children in Need. In recent years she has taken a self‑described "happy farmer" persona on social media, a nod to her life on the Sussex farm. The decision to separate came after three years of the couple contemplating renewing their wedding vows.A 2018 interview with the Daily Mail's Eden Confidential revealed that Kaplinsky had expressed a desire to renew her vows, but the couple postponed the idea after an incident involving their children's screaming. In May 2024, the pair announced that they had put their ski chalet on the market. The divorce announcement follows their history of maintaining a public image that balances professional success with family values.Kaplinsky Friends Say She Is Devastated By SplitWhile the motivations behind the split remain private, friends have said that Natasha is devastated and that both parties wish to concentrate on supporting their children through this transition. The news has attracted attention from fans of Kaplinsky's broadcasting career and viewers who followed her journey from the BBC to Channel Five and her subsequent charitable endeavors. The Daily Mail's coverage emphasizes the emotional aspect of the break-up, quoting a friend who described Natasha as "devastated" and "very sad." The divorce discussion is expected to be sensitive, with the couple encouraging media outlets to respect their privacy and the children's well‑being. They have made no public statements beyond confirming that they are ending their marriage and will focus on their children.