Anne Robinson still wearing her wedding ring - despite £60million divorce

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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Anne Robinson was still wearing her wedding ring this morning after announcing her £60 million divorce from her husband of 27 years John Penrose.

Wearing her trademark all black, accessorised with a purple scarf, she made no comment as she left her west London home this morning to film her hit television show, The Weakest Link, at Pinewood Studios.

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Just getting divorced: TV presenter Anne Robinson seen this morning still wearing her wedding ring following the announcement that she is divorcing husband John Penrose after 27 years of marriage

Goodbye: The divorce is said to be amicable and Robinson is expected to share her £60million fortune with her estranged husband

And as she climbed into her waiting car this morning, she waved her left hand to reveal she was still wearing her wedding ring.

The 63-year-old TV presenter announced that she is divorcing Penrose on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.

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Anne Robinson and husband John Penrose have announced they are to split after 27 years of marriage

His smile may have had something to do with the fact he is unlikely to leave the marriage empty-handed.

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As her business affairs manager, the 60-year- old was the driving force behind her rise to stardom and could win a substantial slice of her £60 million fortune in the divorce settlement.

The couple, who have no children, say they will remain close friends and insist no one else was involved in the break-up.

"There is no acrimony and Anne and John have reached on amicable settlement on all financial issues," said their spokesman.

Miss Robinson said: "We have been an enormously important part of each other's lives for a very long time and our friendship will carry on forever."

A friend said that cracks began to appear in the marriage more than two years ago, around the time they sold their £200,000 renovated estate in the Cotswolds for a staggering £3.5million (17.5 times its original value) and moved to a more modest cottage nearby.

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Anne met John when they were both journalists working on Fleet Street

Miss Robinson began spending more time in New York visiting her daughter from her first marriage while her husband became more attached to country life. Despite this, the couple put on a united front in public and continued to attend events together despite their marital problems.

The friend said: "After parties in London, John would go back to the country and she would stay in town alone.

"They now have separate homes in the Cotswolds but Anne finds life there quite humdrum and prefers to spend more time at her homes in London and New York. Both Anne and John are very sad and upset.

"There's been plenty of soul searching and anguish but in the end they believe it's the only sensible solution. Anne feels especially chastened by her experience.

"There's been nothing impulsive about the decision. But she feels they have both given the marriage their best shot."

The friend said that Miss Robinson recognised her husband's contribution to her career over the years and had reflected that in the financial settlement.

"John was her business affairs manager for many years," added the friend. 'He was always a charming but strong negotiator and was instrumental in paving the way for the superstar status she now enjoys.

"He has done well out of her success as well. Anne has always made clear John's contribution to her success and will acknowledge that support and guidance always.

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The couple turned this £200,000 one-storey estate into an eight bedroom home and sold it for £3.5million two years ago

"They have genuine affection for each other and mutual respect."

The divorce settlement is expected to be finalised in the next few weeks.

The couple married in 1980 and, apart from a brief split in 1990, have enjoyed an apparently strong relationship.

Miss Robinson had her daughter, Emma, through her marriage to former Times editor Charlie Wilson.

That relationship collapsed in 1973 partly due to Miss Robinson's alcoholism which she beat before launching her television career. She took over from Barry Took as the presenter of the BBC's Points of View programme in 1988 and went on to front consumer affairs programme Watchdog in the 1990s.

But it was her acid-tongued performances on the BBC quiz show The Weakest Link that made her a household name and made her millions.

The format was sold around the world earning the BBC more than £100million and Miss Robinson also presented a U.S. version of the show.

The presenter has made more than 1,000 episodes of the quiz over the past seven years and is set to start filming a new series as part of a two-year contract with the BBC believed to be worth £6million.

She looks younger than her 63 years, largely thanks to regular Botox injections and cosmetic surgery.

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