Home Celebnews099

The Two Wives Of Paul Hollywood: Inside The Baker's Controversial Love Life And New Marriage To Melissa Spalding

• minute read
Contents

The life and loves of The Great British Bake Off judge, Paul Hollywood, have been as closely scrutinised as his signature handshake, and as of late 2025, his personal life has entered a new, definitive chapter. The famous baker is currently married to pub landlady Melissa Spalding, a union that followed a highly publicised and protracted divorce from his first wife, Alexandra Hollywood. This article provides the most up-to-date information on his current marriage, the details of his 2023 wedding, and a complete profile of the two most significant women in his life.

The definitive update in Paul Hollywood’s romantic timeline is his marriage to Melissa Spalding in September 2023. The private ceremony in Cyprus marked a fresh start for the celebrity chef, drawing a firm line under the bitter split and financial settlement with his ex-wife, Alex. This current status, as of December 21, 2025, sees Hollywood settling into married life with his second wife, a relationship that began quietly and culminated in a sun-drenched, intimate wedding ceremony.

The Women Behind the Baker: A Complete Biography Profile

Paul Hollywood has been married twice, first to Alexandra Hollywood for two decades, and currently to Melissa Spalding. Both women have strong careers and backgrounds that stand independent of his celebrity status. Below is a detailed profile of both his former and current wife.

Melissa Spalding: The Current Wife (M. 2023)

  • Role: Pub Landlady and Businesswoman.
  • Current Status: Married to Paul Hollywood (M. September 2023).
  • Location: Kent, UK.
  • Background: Melissa is the landlady of The Chequers Inn in Smarden, Kent, a business that has been run by her family for years. She is a UK native, like Hollywood.
  • Relationship Timeline: Paul and Melissa reportedly began dating in late 2019, following his split from previous partner Summer Monteys-Fullam. Their relationship was kept largely out of the spotlight until their engagement became public knowledge.
  • Wedding Details: The couple married in a luxurious ceremony at the Anassa Hotel in Cyprus in September 2023. This location holds a poignant significance, as it is the same resort where Paul met his first wife, Alexandra, over two decades prior. Approximately 75 guests attended the event, including Paul's Great British Bake Off co-star, Prue Leith.
  • Controversy: Notably, Paul’s only son, Josh Hollywood, from his first marriage, was reportedly not in attendance at the wedding, highlighting a potential strain in the father-son relationship following the divorce.

Alexandra Hollywood (Alex Hollywood): The Ex-Wife (M. 1998–2017)

  • Role: Chef, Family Food Writer, and Cookbook Author.
  • Divorce Status: Split in 2017; divorce and financial settlement finalized/agreed out of court.
  • Culinary Career: Alex Hollywood is a passionate home cook and family food writer who has carved out a successful career in her own right.
  • Published Works: She is the author of two popular cookery books, *My Busy Kitchen* and *Cooking Tonight*, focusing on fresh, accessible, and flavour-packed recipes.
  • Media Presence: Alex is also known as a TV Chef and Food Educator, frequently appearing at food festivals and on various media platforms, where she shares her no-fuss approach to family meals.
  • Shared Child: Paul and Alex share one son, Josh Hollywood.
  • The Split: The couple separated in 2017 after 20 years of marriage, a split that was followed by a highly publicised legal battle over finances, which was eventually settled out of court.

The High-Profile Divorce and Financial Settlement

The separation of Paul and Alexandra Hollywood in 2017 became one of the most talked-about celebrity splits in the UK, primarily due to the financial battle that followed. The couple had been married for two decades, meeting in Cyprus in 1996 while Paul was working as a head baker at a hotel.

The divorce proceedings were protracted and, at one point, seemed destined for a high-court showdown over Paul’s estimated £10 million fortune. Alex, a successful food writer in her own right, was reportedly seeking a significant settlement following the breakdown of their long marriage. The legal wrangling captured media attention for years, casting a shadow over Paul's public persona on The Great British Bake Off.

However, the most recent and relevant update confirms that Paul and Alexandra agreed to settle their financial differences out of court. This decision, reached quietly, allowed both parties to finally move on and avoid the further public scrutiny of a full trial. Alex has since continued her successful career as a chef and food author, choosing to retain her marital name, Alex Hollywood.

Meeting the New Wife: Melissa Spalding and The Chequers Inn

Paul Hollywood’s relationship with Melissa Spalding began in the same county where his career took off: Kent. Melissa is the landlady of The Chequers Inn, a traditional pub in the village of Smarden. The relationship started after Paul became a regular at the establishment.

The couple’s connection was reportedly built on a shared love for a quiet, more grounded life away from the glare of television fame. While Paul is one of the most recognisable faces on British television, Melissa has maintained a lower profile, focusing on running her family's pub. She has been in the pub trade since 2007, and her family is well-known in the local community as hospitable innkeepers.

Their decision to marry in Cyprus, the island where Paul first met Alex, was a symbolic move. The luxurious Anassa Hotel provided the backdrop for the intimate affair, attended by close friends and family, including GBBO co-judge Prue Leith, who flew out to celebrate the union. The wedding was described by sources as "tasteful and stylish," marking a solid commitment for the couple after four years of dating.

The Hollywood Relationship Timeline: Key Entities and Events

To fully understand Paul Hollywood’s current marital status, it is essential to trace the key events and relationships that led to his marriage to Melissa Spalding. His love life has been a source of intense media fascination, involving several high-profile splits.

  • 1996: Paul meets Alexandra "Alex" Hollywood in Cyprus, where they were both working at a hotel.
  • 1998: Paul and Alex marry. They later welcome their son, Josh.
  • 2013: The couple briefly separate after Paul admits to an affair with his The American Baking Competition co-star, Marcela Valladolid. They reconcile shortly after.
  • 2017: Paul and Alex split for good, leading to a long and public divorce battle.
  • 2017–2019: Paul dates Summer Monteys-Fullam, a former barmaid 29 years his junior. The relationship ends abruptly amid reports of a disagreement over a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).
  • Late 2019: Paul begins dating Melissa Spalding, the landlady of The Chequers Inn in Kent.
  • 2020–2022: The couple keeps their relationship private, navigating the challenges of the pandemic while Melissa continues to run her pub.
  • 2023: Paul and Alex Hollywood agree to settle their divorce and financial dispute out of court.
  • September 2023: Paul Hollywood marries Melissa Spalding in a private ceremony in Cyprus.

The current Mrs. Hollywood, Melissa Spalding, represents a new era of stability for the celebrity baker. While his career on The Great British Bake Off continues to thrive, his personal life, now firmly settled with Melissa, seems to have finally found its quiet, domestic balance away from the intense media heat of previous relationships.

paul hollywood wife
paul hollywood wife

Detail Author:

  • Name : Mrs. Cheyenne White II
  • Username : jadams
  • Email : morton.schulist@ritchie.com
  • Birthdate : 1988-10-20
  • Address : 235 Alison Freeway Suite 123 South Josiahside, FL 80468
  • Phone : 361-304-3117
  • Company : Pfannerstill, Hahn and Rath
  • Job : Tractor Operator
  • Bio : Quia amet incidunt dolor non autem iure id. Quia eum minima et autem perspiciatis harum ullam. Et quas aperiam molestias animi aut officiis.

Socials

tiktok:

  • url : https://tiktok.com/@mayertr
  • username : mayertr
  • bio : Aut quisquam facere tenetur exercitationem quod doloremque atque.
  • followers : 5040
  • following : 2626

linkedin:

instagram:

  • url : https://instagram.com/reymayert
  • username : reymayert
  • bio : Laudantium rem est consequatur. Ipsam maxime possimus ea occaecati.
  • followers : 6310
  • following : 2680

facebook:

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/rey5714
  • username : rey5714
  • bio : Eius molestiae nulla nam. Error consequuntur a reprehenderit praesentium a. Omnis culpa earum eius rerum.
  • followers : 4233
  • following : 768

Random Posts