Linda Robson tells Woman why her 33-year marriage to Mark Dunford has come to an end
WORDS: JULIE ANN TRAINOR. PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, INSTAGRAM @LINDAROBSON58
In recent months, Linda Robson has been open about the ups and downs of her relationship. She previously admitted, ‘We’ve been married 33 years, so it’s not going to be all plain sailing.’
But now the former Birds of a Feather star, who shares children Roberta and Louis with her husband Mark, has officially confirmed that the couple have split, telling Woman, ‘He’s a really good dad and we had some good years, but enough is enough.’
Here, in a candid chat, Linda, 65, reveals the ways she’s taking her mind off the separation, how she’s leaning on her family and why she’s not interested in dating again.
Always on the go
Going through a break-up is never easy, but Linda tells Woman she’s using this time to focus on herself and cherish moments with her loved ones. ‘I’ve got my family and my kids around me. And I’m going on a cruise with Lesley Joseph in November,’ she tells us. ‘I’m keeping busy.’ And, hinting that the split was perhaps a long time coming, she adds, ‘I feel fine. I’m just going away on trips all the time.’
Linda has
been in the world of showbiz since the age of 10 and her passion for her work is something else that’s keeping her distracted during this unsettled time. ‘I’ve got Loose Women,’ she says. ‘I like to be busy and I’m never retiring – I couldn’t think of anything worse than retiring.’
One thing Linda has put out to pasture is dating. Speaking about how her showbiz pal Vanessa Feltz is also single, the star explains, ‘We get together all the time and compare stories.’ But, unlike Vanessa, who re-entered the romantic arena by taking part in Celebs Go Dating, when asked if she’s open to meeting someone, Linda replies, ‘I’m not, interested, honestly. I can’t be a***d with all that.’
Tough times
While Linda and Mark splitting up is incredibly sad news, it’s perhaps not a huge surprise. Linda has been an open book when it comes to the struggles they’d been going through before the break-up and often suggested the spark had gone from their long-standing relationship. Her honesty is refreshing. When talking about the subject of romance, the actor said, ‘Women do want it, but when you’ve been married over 30 years, that sometimes goes out the window, doesn’t it?’ And when her co-star Jane Moore said women want companionship out of a relationship, Linda hi
