Heston whips up a quickie wedding to his young lover
THEY were thought to be living apart just weeks ago as they struggled through a ‘rough’ period in their relationship.
But it seems TV chef Heston Blumenthal, 51, and his girlfriend Stephanie Gouveia have worked through their problems – as they have married in a spontaneous ceremony on the luxury island of Soneva Fushi in the Maldives.
The couple, who started dating in April 2016, had been going through a ‘rough time’ since the French estate agent – believed to be 20 years younger than her new husband – gave birth to their first child together last year. They reportedly spent time apart while the divorced father of four battled a personal issue. The chef, famous for his bizarre food creations, is even said to have escaped to a ‘celebrity friend’s’ retreat after ‘months of turmoil’.
In January, Blumenthal’s sister Alexis, 49, was given a suspended jail term after she slammed their mother’s head into a car door. The Michelinstarred chef has not appeared on TV or at events in months.
A source told the Sun on Sunday last month: ‘He’s going through a rough time with Stephanie and things haven’t been good between other members of his family.’
But during the Maldives trip Blumenthal popped the question. He then reportedly told hotel staff: ‘Marry us now!’ and they arranged the quickie non-religious wedding.
Blumenthal and his former wife Zanna – short for Susanna – married in 1989, split in 2011 and divorced last year. She is mother to their three children, Jack, 25, Jessie, 22, and 20-yearold Joy. Blumenthal’s Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, has three Michelin stars.