Comedy’s ‘golden couple’, Stewart Lee and Bridget Christie, confirm split after 17-year-long marriage
- Break-up comes amid claims Lee has grown close to comedian Rosie Holt
They have been the golden couple of the comedy circuit for two decades. But now stand-up stars Stewart Lee and his wife Bridget Christie have split.
Their break-up comes amid claims that Mr Lee has grown close to another, much younger, comedian, Rosie Holt.
The Mail on Sunday has been told that Lamda-educated Ms Holt, who is in her 30s, is being referred to as his ‘girlfriend’ in comedy circles.
Mr Lee, 55, confirmed yesterday that his 17-year marriage to Ms Christie, 51, is over and they have been living apart for two years.
He insists they have remained friendly for the sake of their two children, who are aged 16 and 12.
Stand-up star Stewart Lee and his wife Bridget Christie have split after 17 years of marriage
Mr Lee, 55, confirmed that he and Bridget Christie, 51, have been living apart for two years
His publicist said: ‘Stewart Lee confirmed today that he and his wife, comedian Bridget Christie, amicably parted and have been living separately since 2021. Married in 2006, the couple remain friends and continue co-parenting.’
The couple met at a party at the Leicester Comedy Festival in 2004 and until their split lived in Stoke Newington, North London.
The news of their separation follows Ms Christie’s recent Channel 4 series The Change, about a menopausal woman who temporarily leaves her useless husband, played by Omid Djalili, to embark on an adventure in the Forest of Dean.
In an interview last year, as Ms Christie was filming The Change, Mr Lee told The Times: ‘I said, ‘When this comes out, everyone’s going to say that’s me.’
The split has become the talk of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where both Ms Christie and Ms Holt are performing.
On Friday night Ms Christie attended Ms Holt’s That’s Politainment! show.
Rosie Holt, who is in her 30s, is being referred to as Stewart Lee’s ‘girlfriend’ in comedy circles
When asked by this newspaper about Mr Lee’s romance with Ms Holt, Ms Christie said: ‘I don’t talk about Stew and I never have.’
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Mr Lee declined to comment. However, a source told The Mail on Sunday: ‘The talk of the circuit is that Stewart and Rosie are very close.’
During her own show at the Fringe on Friday, Ms Christie made a point of not referencing her estranged husband.
After citing comic Lee Mack, she said: ‘I can’t think of any other male comedians. I’m sure there’s some, right?’
She also spoke of her newfound confidence, saying: ‘This is my life and I’m going to live it.’
Ms Holt is best known for her satirical videos Woman Who… which she posted on Twitter during the pandemic three years ago.
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