Olympic gold medallist Dame Denise Lewis secretly split from her music mogul husband Steve Finan two years ago

Denise said in her statement - in white words on a black background: "After much thought and consideration, Steve and I decided to separate two years ago as a couple.

"This decision was made with mutual respect and care for one another after many meaningful years together.

"We remain grateful for the time we shared and the wonderful children created.

"We value the kindness and support from our family and friends over the last two years and our priority moving forward is maintaining a positive co-parenting relationship and focusing on the well-being of those we care about most.

"We appreciate your understanding for privacy during this time and as we move forward.

"Denise."

In November, the Mail on Sunday reported Denise and Steve, who met at the Brit Awards, had separated "in recent months".

Friends told the newpaper Mr Finan, 60, who was the late Liam Payne's manager for seven years, had moved out of the home he shared with Denise in Buckinghamshire, where the pair lived with their three sons.

One source told The Mail on Sunday at the time of the report: "It's such a shame because they are both lovely people and were always thought of as a wonderful couple.

"Despite trying to make it work, Steve and Denise just found themselves drifting apart from one another.

"In the end they decided that breaking up was probably the most sensible thing to do."

Heptathlete Denise was spotted without her wedding ring on air throughout her run as a pundit for the BBC's Olympic Games coverage in 2024, and her social media accounts appear to be bare of any photos of her and Steve.

The pair also seem to have unfollowed each other on their socials.

Steve is the son of comedian Tom O'Connor, and met Denise in 2000 through mutual friends at the Brit Awards when he was then a pop manager looking after acts such as Neneh Cherry and All Saints.

They met again and started dating after Denise split from the Belgian sprinter Patrick Stevens - father to her daughter Lauryn.

Denise said in 2006: "I was still with Patrick when I first met Steve, then we met again more recently and it was sort of love at second sight."

The Mail on Sunday said when Denise approached about their story about her marriage split in November 2024, she declined to comment but did not deny their separation.

Steve and a spokeswoman for Denise also declined to comment at the time.