Saatchi To Divorce Nigella After Neck Row

The 70-year-old says they have drifted apart and claims his wife has grabbed his neck during previous arguments.

            

Art collector Charles Saatchi has announced he has filed for divorce from Nigella Lawson - citing her refusal to defend his reputation after he was pictured with his hand around her neck at a restaurant.

In a statement, the 70-year-old told The Mail On Sunday: "I am sorry to announce that Nigella Lawson and I are getting divorced.

"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."

The couple were pictured on June 9 during an argument at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair, central London.
Images showed Mr Saatchi with his hand around the 53-year-old celebrity chef's throat.

Ms Lawson, the daughter of former chancellor Lord Lawson, was reportedly seen weeping following the episode. She did not make a complaint to police.

Mr Saatchi voluntarily attended a central London police station and accepted a caution, saying he did not want the incident "hanging over all of us".

But he claimed his wife has refused to answer calls after apparently leaving the family home with her two children, Cosima, 19, and Bruno, 17, from her previous marriage to journalist John Diamond, who died of throat cancer in 2001.

Mr Saatchi, who made his name in advertising, said: "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.

"The row photographed at Scott's restaurant could equally have been Nigella grasping my neck to hold my attention - as indeed she has done in the past."

Mr Saatchi insisted his actions were not violent, saying that while he had his hands around Ms Lawson's neck, "there was no pressure applied to her".

He said the pictures gave a "wholly different and incorrect implication", adding: "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."

Ms Lawson became a household name in 1998 with her first cookery book, How To Eat. She married Mr Saatchi in 2003.

Her spokesman said: "There is no comment from Nigella."