Strictly Come Dancing star Alex Kingston's painful split from Oscar nominee after affair

Strictly Come Dancing's latest star, Alex Kingston, has navigated a tumultuous romantic history before settling down with her current husband.

The 62-year-old Doctor Who alum is gearing up to dazzle audiences on the BBC's beloved dance contest.

Alex won over the hearts of Doctor Who fans with her portrayal of River Song, a character that featured during the tenures of David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Peter Capaldi on the iconic sci-fi series.

Her illustrious television career includes roles in the American medical drama ER, period pieces such as The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, Arrow, and A Discovery of Witches.

The actress has never been shy about her desire to participate in Strictly. In 2019, she revealed: "Sarah Hadland and I talked about how much we'd like to do Strictly Come Dancing. Then I discovered she's a trained ballet dancer. 'Hang on a minute! That's not fair!' So, I can't do it on a season when she is on it!"

Off-screen, Alex has experienced her own personal dramas. She met Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1983.

The couple married ten years later, but their relationship ended disastrously when Ralph fell for a woman 18 years his senior.

Reflecting on their split, Alex once said: "We were like strangers - very fragile," reports the Mirror.

"His mother was dying and somehow we thought the wedding was going to heal everything. But that was crazy, of course."

In 1995, Ralph starred in Hamlet at Hackney Empire opposite Francesca Annis-who played Gertrude, his character's mother.

Despite the age gap, their romance resulted in him abandoning Alex and declaring his love for Francesca. Ralph, aged 32 at the time, began a relationship with Francesca, then 50.

Francesca, who has three children with photographer Patrick Wiseman, allegedly left him for the actor.

Alex disclosed the extent of her emotional turmoil following their divorce to the Daily Mail, stating: "I was feeling worthless, that I would never find anyone else as good as my husband, which is ridiculous, but I had so little self-esteem.

"Divorce is awful but it is also something I don't regret happening to me because it has shaped who I am now."

Ralph and Francesca were together for 10 years between 1997 and 2006 and dismissed age gap criticisms.

"Of course I don't spend days agonising over the age difference. How can I? There is nothing I can do about it," she once said.

"Ralph and I have been together ten years now so, whatever happens, we have had a very good, different relationship and an interesting time."

Their romance crumbled following a shocking infidelity claim as Romanian singer Corneila Crisan alleged she had conducted a two-year affair with Ralph.

The following day, Ralph and Francesca declared their decision to part ways, stating: "Miss Annis confirms today that she and Ralph Fiennes are to separate."

Ralph's infidelity had a devastating impact on Alex, who confessed to contemplating suicide.

She later tied the knot with German writer Florian Haertel and together they welcomed daughter Salome in 2001.

Their relationship ended in 2009, with the divorce being finalised in 2013. Fortunately, Alex has since found happiness once more, now married to television presenter Jonathan Stamp, with the pair tying the knot in Italy in 2015.

Strictly Come Dancing returns to the BBC later this year.