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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Jane Lavender & Sophie McCoid

Dancing on Ice star Kevin Kilbane explains secret split from wife Laura

Former footballer Kevin Kilbane has gushed about his new relationship with his Dancing on Ice partner Brianne Delcourt.

Ex-Everton star Kevin and his pro partner say they started off as 'best buds' after being put together for the show.

But their relationship has now blossomed into romance.

Speaking to OK! Magazine about their new relationship, Brianne referred to Kevin as her 'person' when asked if they were an official couple.

She also revealed that the pair have a lot in common and have an agreed understanding of parent-hood and it's importance, making their bond even stronger - reports Mirror Online.

Kevin Kilbane and Brianne Delcourt. (PA)

Brianne added: "We were just friends initially, but he’s been my biggest support while I’ve been without my daughter.

“Kev’s a dad, too, so he gets it. He’s been my best bud."

The feeling is definitely mutual as Kevin said things just clicked between the couple.

He said: "There was an attraction with Brianne the first time I met her. But it was way more than that. Everything just clicked."

Kevin has two daughters with his ex-wife, Laura.

Kevin Kilbane and former wife Laura (Sunday Mercury)

The couple were married for 12 years but split up in 2011, which he kept secret for several years.

The 42-year-old has blamed the split on the couple being “naive” and settling down too young – after marrying when he was just 22 after four years together.

He told the Daily Record: "It’s difficult to talk about now because we’re not together, which you probably don’t know. I’m not with Laura, I’ve not been for two-and-a-half years. So it’s a difficult one.

“I was very young. When you do things like that you get swept up in emotions. Looking back now, I probably would change it.

Retired footballer Kevin Kilbane (Manchester Evening News)

“At that particular time, it felt right for me but as time moves on it probably isn’t that way. Again, I was very young, very naive.”

After the couple broke up, Kevin moved out of the family home but admits he was to blame for the split.

He said: "When I moved to Hull in 2009, I was on the road a lot. I was away three and four nights a week. Then I was away on international duty for Ireland 10 and 15 days at a time.

“That’s what put pressure on our relationship. That’s probably why we ended up splitting up.”

And the hardest part for the former footballer was breaking the news to the couple's two daughters, Elsie and Isla.

Kevin said: "I was always away anyway so, probably, throughout their lives they got used to me being away. It certainly was no easier from my point of view.

“It was very hard for me to take. It was awful but I think my profession didn’t help. It doesn’t help with stable family life.

"It’s easier without kids because you can both get on with doing things individually.

“When you have kids, you still have to remain focused on your professional life and try to focus on your family too.

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You can now tune in to the Liverpool Echo's early-morning news headlines on the Amazon Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices.

Click on  this link  and then open up the Echo's briefing service in the Amazon Alexa app.

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