EastEnders’ Lucy Benjamin breaks silence on split from husband after 17 years

Lucy Benjamin, known for her role as Lisa Fowler on EastEnders, has finally opened up about the end of her 17-year marriage with Richard Taggart.

The actress, 53, revealed the former couple have been separated for “quite a long time” as she shared they decided to part ways in January 2023. Despite the split, Lucy and Richard remain amicable, focusing on co-parenting their two children. She insisted they will “always have a connection” because of their daughters.

The TV star also reflected on moving forward and ensuring her children’s well-being. They are focusing on making sure their children are “happy and safe” as they also deal with the split alongside their parents. Lucy also touched on the privacy they experienced post-split: “I haven’t really spoken about it.

“It was weird the way it just came out as it was quite a long time after we’d actually separated,” she told OK Magazine. “But people didn’t really pressure us and there was no big shebang about it. We were kind of left alone, which was lovely.” Discussing how work has been a solace during tough times, Lucy expressed it has been her “comfort”.

Her own parents split up and at the time, Lucy threw herself into work even as a child. She admitted work has been “a lifeline when times are tough” for her. Lucy “loves nothing more” than her acting career and confessed she “wouldn’t know how to do anything else” so is thankful for all the opportunities she has been given.

Lucy Benjamin with her husband Richard Taggart

Lucy and Richard were together 17 years (Image:David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

Lucy Benjamin with her husband Richard Taggart

They welcomed two daughters together (Image:Piers Allardyce/REX/Shutterstock)

Despite her heartbreak, Lucy insisted “life goes on” and that she is very similar to ex Richard when it comes to parenting. She added: “Hopefully, we’ll never change; we will always be their mum and dad.” Lucy and Richard tied the knot in 2006 at Babington House, Somerset. The couple met during a flight to Dubai and got engaged just three months later.

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Speaking previously about their first meeting, the soap legend said: “He was sat next to me and while I was reading a book, he tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘This must be strange for you because I know a lot about you and you don’t know anything about me, but my name’s Richard and I’m going to Dubai’.”

“Fortunately, I found it very funny and we didn’t stop chatting. We were engaged within six weeks – and married within nine months.” Their marriage was arranged quickly, with Lucy admitting she was “a bit pushy” as she was seven weeks pregnant when they tied the knot. Her pregnancy was announced on the first episode of The X Factor: Battle of the Stars back in 2006, by Sharon Osbourne.

Seconds after the blunder, Kate Thornton who at the time was hosting the programme asked Lucy: “I don’t think you wanted that announced tonight, did you?” Six months later, Lucy welcomed their first child, Bessie Jo and four years later, the actress announced she was three months pregnant before welcoming their second daughter, Rosie in April 2011.

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