Broadchurch actor Andrew Buchan ‘walks out’ on Downton Abbey wife Amy Nuttall

Broadchurch star Andrew Buchan has left actress wife Amy Nuttall after developing a new relationship with his co-star on a brand new drama. 

The actor, best known for his role as Mark Latimer in the hugely popular ITV series, married Downton Abbey star Nuttall in 2012, with the couple welcoming a son in 2015. 

But he is understood to have left the family home and moved in with Leila Farzad after meeting the glamorous actress while working on BBC series Better, The Sun reports. 

A source told the outlet: ‘It was a huge shock. Amy is heartbroken.’ 

Buchan is said to have told Nuttall their marriage was over before Christmas, leaving the actress devastated and their friends in a state of shock. 

Co-stars: He is understood to have left the family home and moved in with Leila Farzad after meeting the glamorous actress while working on BBC series Better (pictured on show)

The source added: ‘For Andrew to walk away from his family was a huge shock to us all – and Amy is heartbroken. Everyone who knows them thought they were going to be together forever.

‘But he’s packed his bags and left with his new co-star. Whatever has gone on, it seems to have been enough for him to re-evaluate his whole life and rip up their marriage.

‘Nobody is quite sure of the exact details, but Andrew has clearly had his head turned pretty dramatically.’ 

Buchan plays a well-connected criminal alongside Farzad’s corrupt police officer in new crime drama Better, which launched on BBC One in February. 

The London born, Oxford-educated Farzad has previously taken roles in Law & Order: UK, Man Down, This Time With Alan Partridge and I Hate Suzie – a part that earned her a BAFTA TV nomination.

Previously: The actor is best known for his role as Mark Latimer in the hugely popular ITV series Broadchurch (pictured)

Stunned: Friends of the couple are understood to be in shock after he left the family home and moved in with his Oxford educated co-star 

Glamorous: The London born Farzad has previously taken roles in Law & Order: UK, Man Down, This Time With Alan Partridge and I Hate Suzie – a part that earned her a BAFTA TV nomination

Fellow actress Nuttall found fame after joining ITV soap Emmerdale in 2000 at the age of 18; she played Chloe Atkinson for eight years before leaving the show to pursue a music career. 

While on the show she dated co-star Ben Freeman for more than four-years before the couple separated amid claims that he had cheated on her.  

More recently she played Ethel Parks in BBC period drama Downton Abbey. 

Ironically, the character loses her job at the sprawling Downton estate after having a torrid affair with a serving officer. 

MailOnline has contacted a representative for further comment.  

Starring role: She currently has a key role in the latest drama to be delivered by BBC One