‘People have patterns they tend to repeat’: Anthea Turner reflects on working to break unhealthy relationship cycles

Anthea Turner has candidly shared that she once had therapy during a difficult time in her life, that allowed her to recognise unhealthy patterns she's repeated when it comes to relationships.

The presenter, 66, was married to DJ Peter Powell between 1990–1998. During her marriage, Anthea became involved in an affair with businessman Grant Bovey, which was highly publicised and the subject of huge tabloid speculation at the time.

Anthea married Grant in 2000, but the couple divorced in 2015 after Anthea claimed he was unfaithful. During their marriage, Anthea underwent IVF treatment which was ultimately unsuccessful.

While they were together she became a stepmother to Grant's three daughters, and they remain close to this day.

Reflecting on the aftermath of her divorce and what she learned for future relationships, Anthea tells OK! Magazine, "I've only ever once gone into therapy - it was very quick, when I was trying to untangle my divorce."

She continues, "I learnt that people have a pattern and tend to repeat it," going on to admit, "If I look back over the decades, yes, I am a pattern repeater."

Now in her later years, Anthea says she's "scrubbed-up" and "wiser than I was." Explaining what therapy did for her, she shares, "What I needed was the tools and somebody to give me an overview of myself that I couldn't see."

With age, experience and what she now knows about herself, Anthea is engaged to her businessman partner, Mark Armstrong and hoping to wed for a third time. The presenter sweetly refers to Mark as "a gift from the universe."

The couple have been together since 2019 after meeting in a nightclub - they got engaged after two months.

Anthea once told The Mirror of her rapid engagement, "We honestly knew straightaway it was something serious and that there was a great connection. It was all a bit quick and a bit crazy but sometimes those crazy moves work out."

Reflecting on her age, she explains, "It’s very different having a relationship when you’re older. You’re not thinking about buying a house or having children together.

"Instead you look at the best and happiest way to spend your remaining years on the planet."

Saying that love "doesn't have a sell-by date," Anthea adds, "I love to be with somebody. You don’t have to be doing anything in particular, it’s just nice that the other person’s in the house.

"It’s very easy to think those little things don’t matter, but they really do." Although the happy couple are yet to marry, Anthea says, "One day, we'll sort that out, most definitely."

Sharing what that special day might look like, she reveals, "I do love a wedding. It's got to be small, fun, and you've got to be surrounded by your mates."