Kathy Lette splits with her husband of 27 years
OUTSPOKEN novelist Kathy Lette beamed with pride when her autistic son, Jules, made his acting breakthrough by securing the part of Jason Haynes in BBC hospital drama Holby City last year.
Sadly, however, the 58- year- old has also been harbouring a painful family secret as she reveals she’s splitting from her husband, human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson.
‘Geoff and I have separated on the warmest of terms and remain close and committed to the family we have created together,’ confirms the Australian-British author, referring to Jules, 26, and their 24-year-old daughter Georgie, a Labour Party activist.
Reflecting on her 27- year marriage to Robertson, founder and joint head of Doughty Street Chambers, she adds: ‘I think for women, life is in two acts — the trick is to survive the interval. I’m in the interval right now.
‘Geoff is the smartest man I’ve ever met, saving the world’s underdogs from their kennels. I love and respect him so much and always will.’
The couple met in 1988 on an Australian TV show when Lette was still married to media executive Kim Williams, a detail that failed to inhibit her fascination with Robertson, to whom she reputedly didn’t stop talking until 4am the following morning.
Robertson, whose then girlfriend was Nigella Lawson, was similarly entranced; a fortnight later, Lette was in Singapore by his side.
They married in 1990, thereafter becoming one of the power couples of New Labour, counting Tony and Cherie Blair and Gordon and Sarah Brown among their friends.
But their alliance had always been one of contrasting styles, with Lette joking that she used to suffer ‘subpoena envy’, as Robertson, now 70, devoted himself to his legal work.
A visitor to their West Hampstead house noted that Lette, whose novels include To Love, Honour & Betray (Till Divorce Us Do Part), dropped a mention of a private plane into the conversation.
Robertson emphasised that he didn’t like ‘private jets, or luxury boats, or big toys’, and said that he retained ‘a puritan’s belief in providence’.
Speaking to Australian Women’s Weekly, Lette adds: ‘I don’t know what will happen in the future.
‘I’m definitely going to spend more time in Australia. I miss home so much.’