Strictly Come Dancing star’s emotional response to discovering husband’s affair with co-star
Doctor Who star Alex Kingston is one of the celebrities competing on Strictly Come Dancing
16:47, 01 Nov 2025
(Image: BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing contestant Alex Kingston has experienced a turbulent romantic journey before settling down with her present spouse.
The 62 year old actress, famed for her Doctor Who appearances, is amongst the celebrities gracing the dance floor on the popular BBC programme.
During her most recent performance, Alex channelled country icon Dolly Parton as Icons Week returned to the Strictly stage.
Read more Strictly Come Dancing star begs partner not to leave after ‘gross’ incident
The former ER star captivated viewers with a foxtrot, wearing an ensemble inspired by the country music legend, dancing with professional partner Johannes.
They claimed third position on the leaderboard, earning an impressive 32 out of a potential 40 points from the judging panel, reports the Mirror.
Alex captured the affection of Doctor Who enthusiasts through her performance as River Song, featuring during the tenures of David Tennant, Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi on the beloved sci-fi programme.
Her television work extends across the Atlantic, including appearances in US medical drama ER, period productions such as The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, Arrow and A Discovery of Witches.
Beyond her flourishing acting career, Alex Kingston has endured a turbulent romantic history.
Ralph Fiennes and ER actress Alex Kingston(Image: NY Daily News via Getty Images)
She initially met Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes whilst studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1983.
They married a decade later, though their relationship collapsed spectacularly when Ralph began an affair with a woman 18 years older than him.
Looking back on their marriage, Alex once confessed: “We were like strangers – very fragile.
“His mother was dying and somehow we thought the wedding was going to heal everything. But that was crazy, of course.”
In 1995, Ralph starred as Hamlet at Hackney Empire, performing alongside Francesca Annis who portrayed Gertrude, his character’s mother.
Despite their considerable age difference, the pair developed feelings for one another, resulting in Ralph leaving his wife Alex and declaring his affection for Francesca.
Ralph was 32 at the time whilst Francesca was 50. Francesca, who has three children with photographer Patrick Wiseman, allegedly ended her relationship with him for Ralph.
In a frank discussion with the Daily Mail, Alex revealed the profound distress she experienced after her divorce, confessing: “I was feeling worthless, that I would never find anyone else as good as my husband, which is ridiculous, but I had so little self-esteem.”
She continued: “Divorce is awful but it is also something I don’t regret happening to me because it has shaped who I am now.”
Ralph’s rumoured infidelity profoundly affected Alex, who later disclosed she had considered ending her own life.
She went on to wed German writer Florian Haertel, giving birth to daughter Salome in 2001. The marriage ended in 2009, with the divorce being finalised four years later.
Luckily, Alex has found joy once more, now wedded to television presenter Jonathan Stamp after they exchanged vows in Italy in 2015.
Ralph and Francesca maintained a decade-long romance from 1997 to 2006, dismissing concerns about their age gap.
“Of course I don’t spend days agonising over the age difference. How can I? There is nothing I can do about it,” Francesca previously stated.
She continued: “Ralph and I have been together 10 years now so, whatever happens, we have had a very good, different relationship and an interesting time.”
Their relationship concluded following allegations of unfaithfulness when Romanian singer Corneila Crisan claimed she’d conducted a two-year affair with Ralph.
Following these revelations, Ralph and Francesca announced their separation through a statement saying: “Miss Annis confirms today that she and Ralph Fiennes are to separate.”
