Bake Off star Paul ‘cheated before his marriage split’
THE wife of Bake Off star Paul Hollywood has accused him of cheating on her with his 23-year-old girlfriend before they split.
Alex Hollywood has made the claims in court papers ahead of their £10million divorce battle. The couple, who separated last November, had previously let it be known that no one else was involved in the break-up.
Paul, 52, maintained that he started a relationship with Summer Monteys-Fullam, a barmaid at his local pub in the village of Ickham, Kent, after the split last November.
But a source said Alex, 54, disputes that, saying: “Alex has filed for divorce on the grounds of adultery. She’s fed up of the lies – for example, Summer’s claim that the relationship started ‘way after the marriage ended’.”
Legal experts said that by being divorced on the grounds of adultery, Paul could be forced to divulge secrets about his 20-year marriage.
Days after their separation was announced, it was reported that Paul had become friends with Summer, who works at her parents’ pub, the Duke William. He, Alex and their 16-year-old son Josh moved to a £1.4million home nearby after his huge pay rise when Bake Off switched from the BBC to Channel 4.
He met Summer when he dropped in to discuss a party he was throwing for his wife. At the time, a representative of the TV star said they had “only ever been cordial and certainly not romantic”.
The pair now live in a £2million rented property in secluded countryside nearby.
Paul and Alex met while working in a luxury hotel in Cyprus in 1995 – the year Summer was born. They married three years later.
Five years ago, Paul admitted an affair with Marcela Valladolid, now 40 - his co-star on the American version of Bake Off.
Alex filed for divorce in July 2013 on the grounds of his adultery but the couple were reconciled three months later, with Paul saying: ”I made the biggest mistake of my life and I regret it.”
A spokesman for Paul was approached for comment.