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Leeds Live
Leeds Live
Entertainment
Jess Grieveson-Smith

This Morning meets Leeds couple who lived apart for 20 years - and still have separate beds

A married couple on This Morning explained how they have moved into together after 20 years - but will still sleep in separate beds.

This Morning's Rochelle Humes squirmed as she chatted with Claire Burke, 54, and husband David, 48, on their recent decision to move in together - and their decision to have separate bedrooms.

The presenter got personal as she asked the couple whether they ever have sleepovers to watch Netflix - leaving co-host Phillip laughing as the question seemed to allude to much more.

As Rochelle squirmed, saying that it wasn't what she had meant, the Burkes and Phillip found the moment amusing.

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Claire and David, who share son Jay, 12, had lived apart for their entire 20-year relationship but earlier this year, settled down together in Wetherby.

The couple, originally from Bradford, believe that having their own space has strengthened their bond, with husband David telling the presenters: "a good night's sleep isn't worth losing".

The Burkes had a giggle at Rochelle's question with David saying "he had expected it." (ITV)

Asked about their living apart, Claire told the ITV show: "I liked the feeling of not having anyone to answer to and felt like I had achieved so much by having my own house, I was nervous about losing that.

"Neither David or I had lived an independent life before and we felt like we both needed that.

"I didn't ever want to become the nagging wife, and living separately meant we avoided arguments that most couples have.

"It just worked perfectly for us."

The couple, who have been married for eight years, said their main motivation to move in together was the need to get son Jay into a good school.

Claire had chosen Wetherby High School, and the pair believed 'the time was right' for the family to make the move.

Rochelle couldn't believe the couple's decision to live apart (ITV)

The couple had spent time trying to pick the best school for Jay, who has Downs Syndrome.

David, a firefighter, was also offered a crew manager job in the market town and so they decided together, it was time to put down roots.

Yet it took months of weighing up the pros and cons as the house prices in Leeds are more expensive than Bradford and for a while, the husband and wife considered one buying a property with the other renting.

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Talking on the show, they said it had been brilliant so far.

They said: "We were always together before, spending more time together than apart.

"So we don't regret it and each other's little quirks haven't bothered us as much as we thought."

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