Kirstie Allsopp marries Ben Andersen – their love story from cheating rumours to step-mum duties

Kirstie Allsopp, renowned for co-presenting Location, Location, Location, has secretly married property tycoon partner Ben Andersen more than 20 years after they first met at a party. Their relationship, spanning over two decades, culminated in a private wedding ceremony in Mayfair, London, earlier this month.

According to The Mail on Sunday, Kirstie and Ben, both 64, planned their wedding until the last minute. The majority of their guests were unaware of the event, and Kirstie wanted to keep the ceremony as private as she could.

The 53-year-old TV personality, who once declared herself “happily unmarried”, previously admitted their children were all the commitment the pair needed. We take a look back at their romantic relationship now that the couple has officially tied the knot.

Controversial first introduction

At a party a potential Conservative MP was attending in 2004, Kirstie and Ben first met. At that time, Ben had recently separated from his wife, Theresa, an Oxford graduate.

Interestingly, Kirstie and Theresa had attended the same school, Bedales, and it was Theresa who introduced them. This connection led to the blossoming of their relationship, but some accused the presenter of “stealing” Ben from his ex-wife.

“I did not]steal him]. Orlando Fraser, a potential Tory MP friend, and I met Ben at a party. Ben’s wife, whom I knew at school and whom he was already separated from, introduced us”, she told the Evening Standard in 2012.

Expanding the family

The couple welcomed their first son, Bay Atlas Andersen, in 2006, followed by their second son, Oscar Hercules Andersen, in 2008. Kirstie also accepted the role of stepmother to Hal and Orion, Ben’s two sons, from his previous union.

In a previous interview, Kirstie revealed that she had put a lot of effort into her relationship with her stepsons. She had previously admitted to being a stepmother in 2021. She wrote, “I can honestly say that I have put more thought and effort into my relationship with my stepsons than anything else in my life,” in a letter to the Daily Mail.

Bay Atlas Andersen is now 18-years-old, while Oscar Hercules Andersen is 16-years-old. Kirstie was criticized last year for allowing her then-15-year-old son to travel interrailing across Europe for three weeks.

Kirstie defended her choice, claiming that the nine-stop tour of Europe was independently planned by him and his friend. In this increasingly risk-averse world, it’s crucial that we find any ways to give our children the confidence that only comes from trusting them, according to her. “Interrailing isn’t on the cards for everyone, but in this increasingly risk-averse world, is’s vital that we find any ways to give them that,” she wrote.

A new home in Devon

In rural Devon, Kirstie and Ben made the purchase and restoration of the home Meadowgate in 2009. The restoration of the property, which had been unused for 39 years, was a part of the television series “Kirstie’s Homemade Home.”

The couple manages both their Devon home and their luxurious residence in West London’s Notting Hill. This Devon abode can be rented for a whopping £2,200 per week for holidays thanks to Kirstie’s Homemade Home and Kirstie’s Handmade Britain.

In a chat with West London Living, Kirstie revealed that she splits her time between Devon and Notting Hill, stating: “Because basically, I think they’re the nicest places to live”.

Happy being unmarried

Kirstie had previously rekindled her relationship with her after rumors surfaced about their lengthy union. Kirstie reportedly stated in an interview that she had no intention of marrying Ben and that they were deeply committed to one another.

“Ben has been married before and so I don’t think he’s in a hurry to do it again”, she previously spilled. “Our child]children] is our commitment to each other. ‘”

She had also admitted that someone she had dated called her “not girlfriend material.” She previously told Stylist magazine: “No one was interested in me in my twenties.

” I had ‘ please marry me ‘ tattooed on my forehead. I needed to get married and have children so badly. “She then, at a later date, told The Mirror:” One chap said, ‘ Kirstie, you will make someone a fantastic wife but you are not girlfriend material’. “

A private union

But despite seemingly being uninterested in marriage, the couple exchanged vows at a discreet ceremony in Mayfair, London. The event was kept private, with most guests unaware until it occurred.

The choice of location held personal significance, as it was where a memorial service for Kirstie’s late father, Charles Henry Allsopp, 6th Baron Hindlip, had been held.

Source: Mirror