Alan Carr announces he is separating from his husband Paul Drayton after three years

Alan Carr and his husband Paul Drayton are separating after 13 years together and three years of marriage.

A spokesperson for the comedian, 45, made the announcement on Friday, revealing the couple had ‘jointly and amicably made the difficult decision to divorce’.

Paul, 50, pleaded guilty last November to a drink-driving charge, with Alan speaking openly about helping his husband with his alcoholism battle. 

In a statement to the PA news agency on Friday, the spokesperson said: ‘After 13 years as a couple and three years of marriage, Alan Carr and Paul Drayton would like to announce they are separating.

‘They have jointly and amicably made the difficult decision to divorce and go their separate ways. We request that their privacy is respected at this sensitive time.’

A court case in November saw Paul plead guilty at Brighton Magistrates to a drink-driving charge after getting behind the wheel while four times over the legal limit.

He was warned that he faces jail by a judge who told him it was a ‘miracle’ no one was killed.

Charge: Paul was accused of drink-driving in November and admitted his guilt after initially denying the charge at Brighton Magistrates’ Court

Paul was accused of drink-driving after he reversed into a police car, narrowly missing a mother pushing a pram, while in his Mitsubishi 4×4 in West Sussex, just three miles from the £2.7 million home he shares with Alan.

Originally, he denied the charge but admitted his guilt at Brighton Magistrates’ Court. The case has been adjourned for sentencing.

Paul was charged with driving with 153mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – well over the limit of 35mcg – though he initially claimed the breathalyser machine was not working properly.     

The couple married in January 2018, with Alan’s close friend Adele officiating the ceremony. The wedding took place at the singer’s California home. 

Speaking to The One Show shortly after the nuptials, Alan revealed the singer, who he has known since she was 19, got ordained so that she could perform the marriage itself.

Long term love: The couple married in January 2018, with Alan’s close friend Adele, who he has known since she was 19 officiating the ceremony 

Alan confessed: ‘Yeah, [it was] in January. We got married in Adele’s back garden, in LA. I’m not giving you any postcodes! She’s known me and Paul for ages.

‘She said: “I want to do your special day. I want to do everything”. She got ordained and she married us. She is the kindest, most sweetest. She flew us to Vegas to see Celine Dion sing. She [Adele] sang my first dance. It was the best day of my life.’

‘It was lovely. I just want to tell everyone. She won’t say because she’s so private. Flowers, three-course meal, she just planned it all. It was the best day of our life.’ 

Alan and Paul tied the knot after ten years of romance and went on to honeymoon in Los Cabos in Mexico. 

Opening up: In December Paul, 50, revealed he needed a life saving operation before Christmas due to having a chronic subdural hematoma

Back in 2016, the couple were on holiday in Indonesia when Paul popped the question. Alan thought he had had a dental accident while eating his dessert – only to reveal his beau had hidden an engagement ring in the pudding. 

Alan has spoken about supporting Paul through his battle with alcoholism, writing about the struggles in his 2016 book ALANATOMY.

He said: ‘I want to be there for him because he’s the best thing that’s happened to me and I’ve got to support him and everything.’ 

Paul has a history of alcoholism and went into rehab in 2018, the year he married Carr. In August 2020, Alan revealed lockdown had tempted his teetotal husband to start drinking again.        

‘Sobriety’: Paul shared a lengthy Instagram post on January 1, admitting 2021 had been full of ‘ups and downs’ as he apologised for hurting his loved ones

Alan said he was trying to get his husband the ‘help he needs’ after he started drinking again.

The comedian told how his significant other ‘fell off the wagon’ while Alan was away filming in Wales, but that he was working with Paul to help him.

The chat show host said: ‘While I was away filming on location the past few weeks, Paul fell off the wagon and started drinking again. When I arrived back home from Wales, Paul was covered in scratches and bruises from a drinking binge.

Ups and downs: Paul said he took ‘responsibility for my actions and am sorry for any hurt I’ve caused at times when I was not myself’

‘We are now working together to get the help he needs to get better which is our number one priority right now.’  

In December Paul revealed he needed a life saving operation before Christmas due to having a chronic subdural hematoma.

Paul explained that he would be ‘offline for a while’ following the news that he would need emergency surgery, as he opened up on the procedure in a video.

The problem was identified after Paul booked an appointment with his doctor due to falling from a horse and his head feeling not ‘right’. 

A chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) is a collection of blood on the brain’s surface, under the outer covering of the brain. 

Taking to social media Paul explained: ‘I have a chronic subdural hematoma. They [surgeons] have to drill two small holes to drain it. Hopefully in the next few days.’

He said: ‘I won’t be on here for a while but will read all your messages as it gives me comfort and peace’ before thanking his followers for their ‘messages and love’.

Later in the day  Paul took to Instagram to address his followers in a series of videos posted to his Story he said: ‘I’m feeling very sorry for myself but also feeling very guilty as I know a lot of you are going through a lot.’ 

He added: ‘I’m feeling broken and I am trying not to cry whilst recording these messages. But, I hope you’re all well and that we can look forward to a better 2022.’