Rick Stein’s ex-wife opens up on ‘difficult’ divorce

The TV cook, now best known for his seafood restaurants and BBC travel series, grew up on a farm in Churchill, a small village just outside the market town of Chipping Norton.

Mr Stein later went on to study English at Oxford, further strengthening his ties to Oxfordshire alongside his upbringing in the Cotswolds.

During his time as a student, he maintained a long‑term relationship with Jill Stein OBE, who would go on to co‑found and run the business side of his restaurant empire.

READ MORE: Rick Stein ‘nearly killed’ ex-wife in crash while at Oxford University

The couple later married, remained together for many years while building their businesses, and eventually divorced after their relationship broke down.

In a recent interview with The Times, the 76-year-old opened up about their “difficult” divorce.

Ms Stein said: “We still work together. We’re very much for the business and the succession of the business to our children.

“Any marriage when it breaks up is difficult, but it was very important to me that the business continued. And it was for Rick at that time as well.

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“It was really important that the thing that we grew together continued. It was difficult, but I got through it.

“As I said, I’m a northern girl. I’ve got northern grit. It was mine as well. We built this business together, so I was determined that I was going to stay and continue with it.”

Mr Stein began a relationship with Sarah Burns, a publicist who had worked with his company, having met in 1997 while he was still married to Jill Stein.

The affair eventually led to the end of his first marriage, and he went on to marry his second wife in 2011, with the couple now living between Australia and the UK.