Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon has split from her partner of 18 years, according to reports.
The TV star and Mis-Teeq singer has been with dancer Azuka Ononye since 2006, and they share two daughters, one aged 11 and one aged six.
Alesha, 46, and Azuka, 43, never officially married that we know, but she has referred to him as her ‘husband’ before, including in 2017 while appearing on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.
However, Alesha has reportedly been confiding in her friends that she feels their romance is now more of a friendship.
According to The Sun, the talent show panellist wants to keep her breakup from the father of her two children as low-key as possible.
A pal told the publication: ‘Alesha’s been quietly telling people close to her that she believes their relationship is over and they’re going to separate.
‘She and Azuka have been together almost two decades, but their relationship has become more like a friendship.’
The source added that both are ‘devoted parents’ and ‘want to focus on keeping their relationship as amicable as possible for [their daughters’] sake.’
Alesha, who typically wears a ring on her wedding finger, appears to be trying to hide her left hand in recent pictures.
As she arrived for Britain’s Got Talent filming last month, she was seen without it in a publicity image.
Meanwhile, on Monday this week, choreographer and model Azuka attended the film premiere of Wicked at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
He took along their eldest daughter while Alesha was away.
It’s believed that Alesha and Azuka have not been photographed together publicly since March when they attended an event in Soho.
Just one week ago, they were seen at rapper Nas’ gig at the Royal Albert Hall, but they sat on opposite sides of the venue.
The last time Azuka featured on Alesha’s Instagram was in June when she performed on the BGT live shows with a special cameo from her other half.
Speaking previously about their relationship, Alesha, who initially hired Azuka as a backing dancer for her tour, shared that an unfortunate injury brought them close together.
‘I had a foot operation, and I couldn’t walk. He was literally sleeping on the floor, looking after me every day,’ she reminisced of 2006.
‘I was just looking at him thinking, “That is for better or for worse, isn’t it?” I looked a state.
‘He was sleeping on the floor because I was on the couch. I couldn’t even get up the stairs. If he can carry me to the toilet, he’s a keeper.’
When asked in 2020 about the possibility of getting down on one knee, given that it was a leap year, she said: ‘I wouldn’t rule out ever proposing to him. I’m not in a rush to get married but I would definitely be open-minded to it – why not?
‘Unless he’s down on one knee with a ring then I’m not going to take him seriously.’
Just three years prior to this, though, during Michael McIntyre’s Big Show Christmas Special, Alesha introduced Azuka as ‘my lovely husband AZ; you can call him Azuka!’, leading fans to believe that had, indeed, wed.
Alesha, who is a mum to Azura Sienna and Anaya Safiya, also once said tat she didn’t think she would have kids, but meeting Azuka changed everything.
‘I knew that we could have children together because of our values, our morals, our thinking aligned,’ she told Giovanna Fletcher on her podcast.
Azuka is Alesha’s second husband, as she was married to British rapper Harvey from 2005 until 2006.
The Scandalous hitmaker recently wrapped filming for the first round of BGT auditions and is due to return to the show early next year, sitting behind the desk alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Bruno Tonioli.
Reps for Alesha Dixon and Azuka Ononye have been contacted for comment.
Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon ‘splits from partner’ after 18 years