Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi have managed to secure a ‘quickie’ divorce – and the TV chef won’t be going after a penny of his fortune.
The pair will be divorced at the end of the month but will not be making a financial claim against each other, it has been reported.
While Nigella is worth £15million, the art collector is worth a staggering £135million.
They have also confirmed lawyer Fiona Shackleton, who acted for Sir Paul McCartney in his split with Heather Mills, will represent Lawson ‘to ensure a swift and amicable resolution’.
The divorce will proceed uncontested on July 31 but ‘neither party will be making any financial claims against the other’.
They separated last month after photos emerged showing Saatchi appearing to grab TV chef Nigella, 53, by her throat and tweak her nose, while she looked tearful before leaving Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair in a taxi on June 6.
The art collector filed for divorce last week, citing Nigella’s refusal to stand up for him and save his reputation in the press.
‘I am sorry to announce that Nigella Lawson and I are getting divorced,’ the 70-year-old said in a statement.
‘This is heartbreaking for both of us as our love was very deep, but in the last year we have become estranged and drifted apart.
‘I feel that I have clearly been a disappointment to Nigella during the last year or so, and I am disappointed that she was advised to make no public comment to explain that I abhor violence of any kind against women, and have never abused her physically in any way.’
‘I am sorry that we had a row. I am sorry she was upset. I am even more sorry that this is the end of our marriage. I wish Nigella only the best for her future, and for her continuing global success.’
He then added: ‘She remains the most wonderful woman in the world. I feel very fortunate to have had such a lovely wife for many years
Saatchi described the apparent argument as a ‘playful tiff’ and accepted a police caution for assault.
Nigella soon moved out of their marital home with her two children from her previous marriage, Cosima, 19, and Bruno, 17, and she has since been spotted house-hunting.
The couple married in 2003.
