Former TOWIE star Billi Mucklow and her footballer husband Andy Carroll are reportedly on the brink of divorce.
The news made headlines when the striker announced in a statement that they had “privately separated earlier this year” and claimed they would “continue to move forward amicably for our children” after 11 years together and two years of marriage.
Billi, 36, who shares three children with Andy – Arlo, eight, Wolf, five, and Marvel, three – has maintained a dignified silence on the split, but sources close to her reveal she is “heartbroken” behind the scenes.
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“She never wanted this, she thought marriage was forever,” the insider claimed. “It was unexpected. She genuinely believed Andy was different from other footballers, but it hasn’t worked out that way.”
(Image: billimucklow/Instagram)
The couple had previously faced turbulent times, including a scandal just weeks before their wedding when Andy, 35, was photographed on his stag do in Dubai, asleep on a bed with two women beside him. The images went viral on social media, making headline news, with one of the women, Taylor Jane Wilkey, telling a newspaper, “At no point did anyone mention it was a stag do, we were told it was a lads’ holiday. I didn’t know he was getting married.”
She insisted that nothing sexual occurred between her and Andy, saying, “She needs to know nothing sexual happened between me and Andy, I swear.” At the time, Billi was reportedly “furious”, moving out of their Essex home and removing her engagement ring.
(Image: billimucklow/Instagram)
The nuptials were a total showstopper at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire, with the couple beaming with sheer joy. Talk about posh do they even had five bridesmaids and Teddy Swims belting out their first dance tune out of the blue.
Fast forward to a year later, soaking up the sun in the Maldives on their lovey-dovey honeymoon, it looked like water under the bridge. But uh-oh, scandal hit the fan months down the line when snaps popped up of Andy getting his groove on with Essex’s very own DJ Kitty McPaws at some party. Kitty was quick to swat away any flirting accusations, saying they were just having a chat.
(Image: billimucklow/Instagram)
Andy let slip about making sacrifices last year. “All these doors have opened up for me through football and I’m grateful for that, but it has challenges,” he dished out, “People see the money but not the sacrifices.”
“I say a lot to Billi, my wife, that I wish I could just walk down the street and be me. No one really sees me. I’m always keeping up appearances.” Spilling the beans on his marriage breakdown, Andy coughed up that “it has been a hard few months for our family”.
After dropping the bombshell divorce news, snaps emerged of Andy chilling with celeb hair wizard Lou Teasdale, nabbing a pint in a London boozer. Our insider’s buzz is that, even though the exes called it quits back in July, Billi, who ditched TOWIE in 2013 for yoga guru vibes, is still reeling from the split.
(Image: billimucklow/Instagram)
“It’s been a really tough time for her and she’s feeling humiliated, too. After what happened on Andy’s stag do, Billi really didn’t want their relationship to be in the limelight negatively again,” they revealed. “She’s so loyal and protective of her family and is just feeling heartbroken. It’s a tough time for her and the kids.”
Ex-England footballer Andy has relocated to France and is now playing for fourth-tier club Bordeaux. As the Carrolls navigate their co-parenting relationship for the sake of their children, they are doing their best to move forward, our insider wraps up. “Billi didn’t want this split and Andy isn’t even sure if he did either, but it’s done now and they’re trying to move on.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
