Gogglebox’s Daniel Lustig-Webb breaks silence on split from Stephen – as star reveals truth behind breakdown of marriage
GOGGLEBOX star Daniel Lustig-Webb has broken his silence on his split from husband Stephen – saying the pair decided to privately split 10 months ago.
TV favourite Daniel exclusively told The Sun that he and Stephen’s six year marriage ultimately ended because they fell out of love and had become better off as friends.
Hairdresser Daniel, who is still business partners with Stephen, said the pair made the joint decision to call time on their relationship after having many difficult discussions.
Despite their marriage breakdown, the pair have remained good friends and still live together in their Brighton home.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun since the split, Daniel said: “We’ve been together 11 years this June, we’ve done so much together – a year after moving in together, we opened up our salon and Gogglebox years later.
“We had such an amazing time, but towards the end, we realised we were really good friends.
“To split at this level now when you’re really good friends, we both felt it was a positive thing really.
“We split around 10 months ago, it’s always a massive adjustment and it’s been very hard for the two of us – we were finding our own time before we released anything
“It does take a while to get used to these things, especially when you marry someone, you think at times it will be forever.”
After over a decade together, the Channel 4 star admitted that they wanted to salvage a friendship after amicably parting ways.
Daniel shared: “We were keen that we would stay really good friends because we used to hang out all the time.
“It was a complete joint decision, we just had a good sit down chat about it quiet a few times.
“That’s always the difficult part, working through that and making sure you’re making the right decision. When you get married – you make that strong decision there – it’s not something you take lightly.
“There was nothing negative that happened, we were both very busy working and you just get really busy with your life and you look back and think ‘oh things have changed a bit’ and we need to chat.
“We never really argued at all. All my friends have said we’ve been very mature and grown up about this.
“It’s just one of those things, you’re together for over 10 years and you end up growing apart. That is always sad but to have that person who is still your friend, it would have been sad if it wasn’t like that.
“I don’t think any relationship has ever ended like this, it been lovely and amicable.
“We only finished Gogglebox a year ago and we were still going fine, but it got to the point where we needed to have a chat about this and we came to the agreement that we should start to ‘uncouple’ as they say.
“We’re doing a Gwyneth,” Daniel laughed as he referred to actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s “unconscious uncoupling” with ex Chris Martin in 2015.
Daniel was full of praise for his ex saying he “still loves him as a person” but explained: “When you decide to break up the love has changed and it transcends into something else.”
“I’ll always always love him in my heart.”
Daniel and Stephen were firm favourites on Gogglebox and have a legion of fans supporting them.
So when the couple broke the news that they were splitting, their followers were left devastated and hoped the pair could reconcile.
But Daniel admitted that the relationship is sadly over for good, saying: “When you get to that point and made those decisions in your mind, the time has past and you’re moving on forward. One with your friendship and two with your life – never look back.”
House-hunting
Daniel said their flat is currently on the market and the pair will begin to house-hunt for their own separate homes.
He told us: “We’re selling our house now, our apartment, we still live together and we still work together four days a week.
“We do still get on really well.
“We have two salons and work three days a week together and still come home and cook dinner and watch telly with each other, apart from when one of us goes out.”
“I’ll probably definitely stay in Hove and Stephen too, he’s got lots of friends here and we live by the beach.
“If I went to a house viewing I’d probably ask Stephen to come to the second viewing to see if he liked it.”
Despite their marriage being over, the pair are still very much business partners and are set to open their third salon.
“We’ve had two businesses together and we’re hoping to open a third one next year in Hove,” Daniel told us.
“We make a great team working together for sure.”
And luckily, the break-up has also not affected their adorable pooches as Daniel promises that they will “co-parent” the dogs.
Moving on
Daniel confessed he’s not dating yet but would be open to it one day and said Stephen is also single at the moment.
He went on: “I haven’t started dating but I think in the future if the right man came along then of course.
“Before I met Stephen I dated quite a few guys, I have dated quite a few different types of guys in my life.
“Before I met Stephen it was just phone and texting.
“There were no apps, just old fashioned dating sites like Match.
“But I’d be open for dating in the future, but right now I’m not really concentrating on it at the moment.
“It’s good to give yourself the space between a big relationship.
“I don’t think Stephen has started dating either, I’m not sure to be honest.
“I think those the questions when you separate you don’t delve into.”
Hitting back
Daniel also addressed the trolling his ex has received after Stephen shared a photo of him and some male pals enjoying a day out in London.
Stephen came under fire for “moving on too quickly” and other trolls told Daniel he could “do better” than his ex.
Daniel said: “I don’t like it, it’s awful. He was literally going out for a friend from London who he hasn’t seen for a long time that he used to work with.
“I am a strong believer that to never read too much into the comments.
“There are always going to be haters out there.
“He was just out to London for the day. They just jumped to conclusions.
“Fans are so used to seeing you together and they get upset by it. It’s not really nice things to say and neither one of us pay attention to it.”
Daniel admitted he does have a protective nature over Stephen – but said he prefers not to respond to trolls to avoid adding “fuel to the fire”.
Despite some harsh comments, Daniel said the majority of fans have been kind and caring in response to the split.
While many of the Gogglebox cast have reached out to support him – including Leeds-based sisters Izzi and Ellie.
He said: “The reaction has been so lovely I didn’t expect it.”
Speaking about a possible return to Gogglebox, Daniel said: “Never say never to a return, sit on the celebrity couch for sure. I’d have to do it with Stephen. We’d make a comeback, one night only.
“I don’t think the magic would be the same on my own.”