Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood agrees to settle divorce money battle out of court

Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood and his estranged wife Alexandra have agreed to settle their money battle out of court following a long-running dispute since their divorce.

On Wednesday, lawyers representing the pair, who split two years ago and divorced in July, told a judge overseeing the cash battle that both sides had agreed to resolve their disagreements privately by going to arbitration.

The news comes the day after the Bake Off final in which David Atherton won the coveted trophy.

During a private hearing at the Central Family Court in London, Judge Martin O'Dwyer described the move to arbitration as "sensible" and said he was "entirely supportive".

Neither Paul, 53, or Alexandra attended the hearing.

Earlier this year, another judge had signalled the end of their two-decade marriage.

Mrs Hollywood filed for divorce on the grounds that the celebrity baker had committed adultery.

Paul Hollywood's divorce settlement is now moving forward (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The pair's divorce came through in July, but they've been battling over money (Getty Images)

District Judge Robert Duddridge granted a divorce decree at a hearing at the Central Family Court in London in July.

The judge held that Mr Hollywood had committed adultery and Mrs Hollywood found it "intolerable" to live with him. He concluded that the marriage had broken down irretrievably and granted a decree nisi.

Detail of the reasons for divorce emerged in court papers.

The judge heard that the couple got married in 1998 and split two years ago.

Judge O'Dwyer had been asked to make decisions over how money should be divided, but barrister Alex Tatton-Bennett, who represented Mr Hollywood, told the judge on Wednesday:"It is Mr Hollywood's strong view that it is not in the family's interest for this matter to be building and it should go to arbitration."

Barrister Niki Langridge, who represented Mrs Hollywood, added: "We have agreed to resolve this matter outside the courtroom."

She said the Hollywoods had agreed to arbitrate.

Lawyers representing the television star had said earlier this year that an agreement had been reached.

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