Dec splits up with girlfriend

Pop Idol presenter Declan Donnelly has split up from his long-term actress girlfriend Clare Buckfield, it was revealed today.

The 28-year-old, who co-hosts the show with Ant McPartlin, was said to be too upset to comment about the end of his 10-year relationship but his manager Paul Worsley confirmed they had broken up because they both "need some space".

"Dec and Clare are giving each other a wee bit of space at the moment but they remain firm friends and always will be," Mr Worsley said.

The couple, who met as teenage actors, had split before but said that this time it was for good, he said, adding: "I want to make it clear there's absolutely nobody else involved."

Donnelly and Buckfield are close to McPartlin - who lives next door in a quiet street in Chiswick - and his longterm girlfriend, singer Lisa Armstrong, who are comforting them over the split.

Donnelly met Buckfield at the start of his career when he worked on the Newcastle teen soap Byker Grove. Since then he and best friend McPartlin have become television's most sought-after presenters, hosting Pop Idol, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, and Saturday morning children's show SM:TV.

Buckfield, 27, plays Jenny Porter in the sitcom 2point4 Children, and has toured the country in hit stage shows.

Friends said the couple had recently spent a lot of time apart because of work commitments such as Donnelly's stint in Australia filming I'm A Celebrity, and were finding it a strain.

Their relationship has also been blighted by rumours of infidelity on both sides. Donnelly was embarrassed by a lapdancer's claim that she became close to him after stripping for him at a London club.

Tina Benson said the TV presenter told her he had split from his girlfriend when he spent five hours and £800 on personal lapdances before taking her home.

Seven years ago Buckfield was alleged to have had an affair with actor Darren Day after acting with him in a stage version of Summer Holiday in Blackpool. She had temporarily split from Donnelly but Day was seeing actress Anna Friel.