Countryfile star says she’s in ‘unchartered territory’ after split from husband of 14 years-Ruth Lawes-Entertainment – Metro

Anita Rani split from her husband Bhupi Rehal in 2023 (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

Countryfile presenter Anita Rani has said she is in a ‘place I never expected myself to be in’ after splitting from her long-term husband Bhupi Rehal.

The former Strictly star, 46, and the tech company owner parted ways last year after 14 years of marriage, with a source claiming they grew apart due to hectic schedules.

Now Anita has opened up about embracing being single, feeling like she’s in ‘unchartered territory’ and moving back to the flat she bought 20 years ago.

Speaking about her new life, she told Good Housekeeping: ‘I feel like I’ve stepped into a place that I never, ever expected myself to be in.

‘I’m in uncharted territory – I’m a single, Asian woman with no children, and do you know what? I love it! I’ve sort of got a blank slate in front of me, and that feels really good.’

After breaking up with Bhupi, Anita said she moved back to her old flat and has turned it into a ‘Parisienne dream house.’

The pair are said to have grown apart due to hectic work schedules (Picture: Instagram)

Anita said she is embracing the single life – although it feels like ‘unchartered territory’ (Picture: Good Housekeeping / David Venni)

She explained: ‘I bought a flat about 20 years ago, which I kept for all these years, and I’ve moved back into it.

‘When I first became single, a friend said, “You could make your little apartment like a Parisienne dream house’”- and that’s exactly what I’ve done.

‘I have lovely cream drapes and white floorboards. My bedroom is dusky pink and I’ve turned my spare room into a dressing room.

‘Just talking about it makes me happy! It’s my little sanctuary and it feels really important to have that.’

Anita, who is best known for presenting Countryfile, has moved back into her old flat (Picture: BBC/Tom Dulat)

She said she had turned the flat into a ‘Parisienne dream house’ (Picture: Good Housekeeping / David Venni)

Anita and Bhupi met at an East London rave in 2008 and were said to have bonded over their love of music.

The pair married in Bradford in 2009, and Anita previously reflected on how she felt on the day.

While she asked how brides were supposed to feel on their wedding day – perhaps ‘butterflies’ – Anita described how she was ‘freaking out.’

‘I’m looking out across the scene in front of me, serene, calm, quiet, and I am anything but. This was not how I’d planned life to be,’ she said.

Anita reached the Strictly semi-finals in 2015 (Picture: MCPIX/REX/Shutterstock)

Their split was announced in September, with a source telling The Mirror:‘It’s really sad but they’ve decided to separate.

‘Their hectic schedules over the past couple of years have sadly meant they’ve drifted apart over time.’

‘They remain on very good terms and wish nothing but the best for one another.’

The June 2024 issue of Good Housekeeping is now on sale.

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