Inside Fearne Cotton’s love life from disgraced paedo ‘ex’ to rocker father-in-law as she announces split from husband
SHE first hit our screens in to 90s as a kids TV presenter after being spotted aged 15 by ITV’S Disney Club, and since then Fearne Cotton, 43, has held down just about every TV and radio gig imaginable.
But it’s not just her 28-year career that’s garnered attention – she’s dated some pretty notable people too.
Her love life mostly dwindled out of public interest after she tied-the-knot with musician Jesse Wood back in 2014.
But just after celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary with a Beckham-inspired photoshoot which saw the former Top of the Pops host pose in her weeding dress, the couple announced they’re calling it quits.
This isn’t the first time Fearne has dealt with a very public breakup though, as she’s dated some other familiar faces over the years.
Here, Fabulous takes a look at the love life of Fearne Cotton.
THIS MORNING BEAU
Many said it was doomed from the start when Fearne started dating Welsh hunk Steve Jones in 2008.
The This Morning presenter already had a reputation as a ladies man when he met Fearne, having seduced A-listers including Pamela Anderson, Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry.
Things kicked off well as the pair were spotted enjoying cosy dates together, with Steve even picking Fearne up from her Radio 1 DJ gig and reportedly even introducing her to his family.
But the fling only lasted three months as Fearne wanted more out of the relationship than Steve could, or was willing to give.
A source told the Mirror at the time of their split: “Steve isn’t ready to settle down and commit to just one lady while Fearne had only recently come out of a long-term relationship when they met, and didn’t want to rush into anything serious either.
“Neither party has any regrets, as it was great while it lasted. They had a lot of fun but if Fearne is going to be with someone there has got to be more to it than this.”
DISGRACED PEDOPHILE ‘EX’
In 2005 the blonde beauty was rumoured to be dating Ian Watkins of the band Lostprophets, who was later jailed in 2013 for a string of sickening child sex offences.
The disgraced Welsh rocker is currently serving a prison sentence after a shocking trial for 13 offences against children, including the attempted rape of a baby.
Little is known about their relationship and Fearne has never publicly commented on it, but the pair were spotting arm in arm in two years after their split enjoying a night out together, before Ian’s downfall.
The presenter later faced backlash after using the so-called catchphrase of Ian Watkins in a jingle on her Radio One show, something the BBC went on to defend as “a commonly used colloquialism among young people.”
Child-protection campaigner Dr Sara Payne said the use of the phrase was “distressing”.
She told The Sun: “It will be highly distressing for anyone preyed upon by Watkins to hear these words used light-heartedly on morning radio.
“After what happened with the Jimmy Saville scandal, the BBC should know better.”
SKATER BOY
Fearne found love with another Jesse before her husband.
Skateboarder Jesse Jenkins got together with Fearne in November 2008 and the pair eventually got engaged in September 2010.
However, it was not meant to be for the pair as they eventually called it quits in April 2011, which confessed was her “rock bottom moment”.
But just months later Fearne met her future hubby.
VODKA AND CIGARETTES
In 2011 Fearne started dating musician Jesse Wood, whose accolades include being a former member of Reef, who are known for hits like Place Your Hands.
After splitting from his wife of eight years, Jesse treated Fearne to a date that reportedly consisted of a meal of just vodka and cigarettes.
Speaking on Jessie Ware’s Table Manners podcast in 2021, Fearne explained that although Jesse has since remained sober, he wasn’t when they first met.
“So he turned up at my house with a plastic bag with a bottle of vodka in and we drank that and we did not eat a thing,” she said.
“I think I had a couple of cigarettes just to wash down the vodka and that was me done. That was my meal that night.”
Jesse and Fearne went on to tie-the-knot in 2014 in a intimate ceremony attended by celeb pals including Denise van Outen, Holly Willoughby, and Keith Lemon.
Jesse admitted he had to clean up his act to bag Fearne though and in 2022 described the bar as being very high.
He said: “I’m getting better doing the dishes and housework. She’s one of the tidiest, cleanest people I’ve met.”
The couple welcomed their first child together, Rex, in 2013, followed by daughter, Honey, in 2015
Jesse also has two children from his previous marriage, Lola and Arthur.
something that was a struggle for Fearne, as she admitted on Kate Ferdinand’s Blended podcast in 2022, that she “felt very ill equipped” being a stepmum to the kids, who are notable older than her own children.
Just after celebrating their 10-yaer anniversary, Fearne shared on Instagram that she’s calling time of her marriage, the announcement came just 10 days after her shock at finding two benign tumours on her jawline.
Addressing their surprise split, Fearne said: “It is with a heavy heart that I let you all know that Jesse and I are ending our marriage.
“Our priority has been and always will be our children.
“We please ask that you respect the privacy of our family at this time.”
FAMOUS FATHER-IN-LAW
Fearne and Jesse aren’t the only famous faces in their family, as Jesse’s dad is none other than Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2013 she admitted: “I never thought I would be related to Ronnie Wood.
“I‘m the biggest Stones fan, but now he lives down the road and is just Rex’s granddad.“
The rock ‘n’ roller has reportedly played a big part in the couple’s life, as well as their children’s, although she admitted the little ones aren’t really interested in his job.
Speaking to You magazine, Fearne said her Rex and Honey “sort of get it”, but aren’t phased by it all and would still rather play with their toys than go to a Rolling Stones concert.
She said: “We took Rex to the Stones gig at Twickenham last summer and he was dancing, then by about 9pm he went ‘I’m really tired’. So we slipped out.”
Meanwhile, the presenter and DJ admitted to being amazed by seeing her father-in-law play live with the band.
She said: “I can sit with Ronnie and see him as my husband’s dad and my children and stepchildren’s grandfather, and then I see him performing with the Stones and go ‘Oh my God, they can do that!’”
Fearne Cotton and Jesse Wood's relationship timeline
by Jake Penkethman, TV Reporter
June 2011 – Fearne Cotton and Jesse Wood began dating one another after meeting at a party in Ibiza. Fearne had split from her ex, also called Jesse, just two months prior whilst Jesse Wood had separated from his wife of eight years, Tilly, in 2010.
August 2012 – The couple confirm they are expecting their first child together just 14 months into their relationship.
February 2013 – Fearne gives birth to their son Rex Rayne Wood and takes an extended period of leave from her mid-morning show on BBC Radio 1 to focus on motherhood.
December 2013 – The couple confirm they are engaged and reveal their plans to marry the following year.
July 2014 – Fearne and Jesse wed in an intimate London ceremony on the 4th of July. The showbiz wedding is attended by guests including Holly Willoughby, Keith Lemon and the member of supergroup, McBusted.
September 2015 – The couple become parents once more as they welcome their daughter, Honey Krissy Wood.
July 2020 – Fearne makes a rare admission about the state of her marriage and admits that the Covid lockdown has put pressure on her and Jesse. She admitted to rowing with him in front of their children as a result of being “stuck within four walls trying to survive”. Fearne said of their rowing antics: “I am a very fiery person, and Jesse can also be quite fiery. We’ve certainly argued in front of the kids. Most parents have at some point. It’s not regular but we have definitely had a pop at each other in front of them — and you don’t feel good about it after. I’ve also shouted at my kids like I think most parents have, especially during lockdown.”
July 2024 – Fearne and Jesse celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary and appear happier than ever by taking part in a Beckham-esque photoshoot by donning their original wedding attire.
3rd December 2024 – Fearne shares her shock at finding two benign tumours on her jawline that require immediate surgery.
13 December 2024 – Just 10 days later, Fearne confirms her marriage is over and that she has split from Jesse for good.