RTE star Arthur Gourounlian has opened up about the emotional five-year split from his husband Brian Dowling.
The Dancing With The Stars judge and his Six O’Clock Show host husband first crossed paths back in 2002 in London, just after Brian had appeared on Big Brother.
Arthur and Brian dated for four and half years before breaking up in 2006.
They eventually rekindled their romance in 2011 before Arthur popped the question in 2014.
The happy couple tied the knot the following July in a stunning ceremony at Powerscourt Co Wicklow, surrounded by family, friends and famous faces.
In a recent interview with the Irish Independent, Arthur revealed that it was actually him who ended the relationship and did so over text message.
Although he doesn’t “remember exactly” what he wrote, Arthur explained: “But I said that I don’t want to carry on any more and that it’s not working. It was a very straightforward message.”
The dad-of-two then opened up further and revealed some of the reasons for their breakup.
He said: “We were together for four years, on and off, and I don’t believe that he gave me the relationship I deserved. I think he took it for granted. I told him that ‘I deserve better. We are both still young, and I tend to commit fully when I’m in a relationship.’ He needed that time apart to realise we were meant to be together.”
Brian also spoke honestly about the time apart, saying: “I’m kind of glad it ended the way it did because we had that five-year time-out, and we came back more evolved. We came back the people we wanted to be.”
He admitted he feared he’d made a huge mistake and recalled thinking: “Oh, my god, how did I let this man walk away?”
Brian continued: “I was putting work first but I really didn’t prioritise my relationship.”
And reflecting on Arthur’s decision to walk away, he added: “Arthur had had enough of me. He said ‘I deserve more’ and he was right, but I wasn’t in the space where I was able to give him what he was looking for.”
Arthur admitted: “When we got back together in 2011, I think it changed us for the better, and it was the best thing that ever happened to us.”
Arthur and Brian are proud parents to their two kids, Blake, two, and one-year-old Blu.
The celebrity couple often share snippets of their day-to-day lives at home with their little ones on social media.
Arthur took his daughter Blake to the special family screening of the highly anticipated new movie Smurfs.
They were also joined by Arthur’s mum Tati as they posed for a sweet snap together on the red carpet.
FAM FUN
Last week, Arthur was lapping up the Irish heatwave with his family and his mum had taken the reigns on the garden fun.
The Dancing With The Stars judge currently has his mum, Maria, also known as “Tati”, visiting from France – and it’s safe to say her grand kids are making the most of their time.
Maria has a fantastic relationship with her granddaughters, Blake, three, and one-year-old Blu and the little ones love when their “Tati” comes to visit.
Arthur took to Instagram to share an adorable clip of Maria having a water fight with the two girls in the garden.
The little ones had a blast playing the perfect summer game with their nan.
In the video, Maria could be seen creeping out the back door with a water gun in her hand and spraying it at Blake who had her back turned to her outside.
Blake started squealing with excitement as she turned around and attempted to squirt the water gun back at her nan.
The two-year-old then ran around the back screaming with excitement while Maria ran after her.
