Not so long ago he was known as the faithful Christian, charming family man who was an incredible baker to boot.
Devoted Paul Hollywood would simply not whip up a Victoria Sponge for anyone except his beloved wife Alex.
But things didn’t stay that way as the Great British Bake Off star went from loving husband to a love rat in a sudden unravelling.
His marriage was once said to be the envy of friends, but fast forward a few years and his love life is in tatters.
He has rarely been out of the headlines since his fame grew on the cult BBC baking show.
The GBBO star’s love life has hit the headlines over the past few years (Image: Getty Images Europe)
Insiders say he transformed from low-key family man into a ‘silver fox’ lusted after by thousands of women as he found the spotlight.
It lead to accusations of affairs and, ultimately, the end of his 20-year marriage.
Paul separated from his wife Alex in November 2017 and this is the story of his often tumultuous love life.
Love at first sight
Paul and former wife Alex were married for 20 years (Image: WireImage)
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Paul and Alex fell head over heels after meeting in 1995.
They caught each other’s eye while working at a luxury hotel in Cyprus where he was head baker and she was a scuba diving instructor.
“We fell in love very quickly. Two weeks was all it took — we both knew,” she told the Daily Mail.
“Paul was lovely, he made me the most wonderful pastries for breakfast. Show me a woman who doesn’t like chocolate!”
They married in Cyprus two years later and moved back to the UK in 1999 before welcoming son Joshua in 2001.
Taste of TV
But did things change when he found fame?
The cameras found him and his big break came unexpectedly when a TV crew visited the hotel where they were working to make a show about yummy Cypriot food.
What followed was a gig on Taste’s Use Your Loaf alongside James Martin of future Saturday Kitchen fame.
Then that and his best-selling cook book 100 Great Breads – and that brought him to the attention of The Great British Bake-Off execs.
Other attention started to come his way, too.
Alex told the Daily Mail in 2013: “I felt very secure with Paul. I trusted him completely. I loved him and he loved me. We were happy and life was good.
“Paul was the loveliest of husbands and a brilliant father. I used to laugh when people called him a sex symbol because to me he was just my husband. He was the same Paul he’d always been. He was very grounded. Fame didn’t go to his head at all.”
The first ‘affair’
He was accused of having an affair with Marcela Valladolid (Image: Mirror Screen Grab)
In February 2013, he was accused of embarking on an affair with fellow judge and TV chef Marcela Valladolid.
Paul was reportedly “dazzled” by his co-star, who described him as a “handsome devil”.
After eventually returning to the UK, he promptly moved out of their family home in Kent.
He later admitted the affair was the “biggest mistake” of his life.
It left Alex devastated – but months down the line he begged her to take him back.
She agreed after weeks of soul searching but it wasn’t long before their marriage hit the rocks again.
Summer of love
Young pub worker Summer caught his eye in 2017 (Image: Internet Unknown)
Paul started seeing then 23-year-old barmaid Summer Monteys-Fullam soon after their marriage fell apart for a second time.
Working at Paul’s local pub The Duke William in Ickham, they met in mid-2017.
He split with his wife of 20 years in November – and this time there was no way back.
A source told The Sun: “In the last few months, Alex had completely given up on their relationship. The trust was totally gone. She just didn’t want to make it work any more.
“She feels fame has changed him. He’s not the same man she fell for all those years ago.”
Not signed and sealed
But things between them turned toxic (Image: Internet Unknown)
Things seemed to be going well between them as they ignored criticism of the age gap.
But in 2019 it all fell apart in a dramatic way.
Summer dumped Paul on the spot after he allegedly asked her to sign a gagging order which would ban her from talking to anyone – including her own friends and family – about their relationship.
Summer was expecting a proposal – not a non-disclosure agreement – according to reports.
Paul eventually broke his silence on social media, saying: “My silence on any matters is not a sign of weakness or agreement of what’s been said, merely I prefer a quiet life away from my day job!
“Take what’s read with a pinch of salt and read between the lines. I know the public can’t be duped into believing what’s out there from a person making money selling stories! and continuously courting the paps…
“There’s always two sides to a story you’ve only heard one… but alas I don’t play those games.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
