Divorce affects people in different ways, and perennial sufferer Peter Andre has been affected by his impending divorce from former glamour model Katie Price (aka Jordan) by a drastic weight loss.

Peter arrived back in the UK this week and looks even lighter than he did before he left, showing that the signs of divorce are hitting the former pop star hard. Peter admitted that he has lost a stone in weight since his split from his wife.

Peter was away in Cyprus with his three children, while the press were concentrating on printing photos of his estranged wife Katie, partying hard in Ibiza.

Peter has promised his fans that he will bulk back up and they shouldn’t fear for his health:

I’ve not lost any more weight! I’m actually getting my appetite back and I am hoping to get stuck into my exercise again soon.

One noticeable thing about Peter was that he still has the tattoo with his wife’s name on it, which presumably he will have removed at some point following the move by Katie to have her tattoo with Peter’s name crossed out on her body.

Peter is expected to give the three children back to his estranged wife some time next week.

In modern society divorce is so common that it has become a subject which is considered acceptable to discuss casually. With at least one in three marriages ending in divorce the appeal of marriage has decreased and so, it seems has the sanctity.

In the newspapers and on the television we often see just how divorce affects people. A prime example of this would be the divorce between Paul McCartney and Heather Mills in March 2008 following a four year marriage. It was dragged through the media and Heather Mills went to almost every morning television show and magazine available in an attempt to gain sympathy from the public. She finally stopped doing so after she broke down in tears on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS FM Morning Show. This was a prime example of the stress that fighting in court when trying to settle ownership of assets can cause. Heather Mills wasn’t the first person to have a breakdown due to the stress of divorce.

It can be especially difficult when a relationship has ended on bad terms. Things can also turn nasty if the couple have children. Both parents are entitled to see their children and if one tries to prevent the other then it can lead to further legal action.

When the court battles become too stressful it isn’t uncommon for one of the divorcees to agree to a settlement out of court. This of course reduces the stress and saves divorce lawyers what could be weeks of appearances in court.

Celebrity couple Matt Lucas and Kevin McGee formally ended their 22 months of marriage last October. With the high rate of celebrity divorces in the news, this couple made the headlines as the first divorce case for celebrity gay couples.

Hiring topnotch divorce lawyers like MichonDe Raya, who handled high profile cases like the divorces of Princess Diana as well as Heather Mills, the divorce was granted within a 75 minute hearing from a High Court. Little Britain star Lucas filed for divorce after only 18 months of marriage from TV producer/writer Kevin McGee stressing McGee’s “unreasonable behaviour” and the star’s frantic schedule as reasons for the dissolution of their civil partnership. Divorce solicitors are trying to reach a financial agreement of how the couple’s assets can be shared.

With the fight for same-sex marriages across the US being won with the introduction of civil partnerships, the new question now is how can they file and end such unions, and is a divorce necessary?

The Lucas-McGee affair caused a stir for their divorce is a test on how same-sex partnerships are settled in a divorce. In the end, divorces for same-sex marriages are most likely the same as those of heterosexual marriages. And in the case of Lucas and McGee, final settlement is still on the way, and the divorce may cost the Little Britain star £5 million.

Former glamour model, Katie Price, has admitted she’s lost the battle to win back her husband Peter Andre and is allowing him to have a quickie divorce. Katie appeared at the Clothes Show this weekend, where she looked thinner than she’s ever looked, dressed in a bikini on stage and being surrounded by dancers.

Despite the outward smiles however Katie is reported to be very upset over the divorce. Insiders have said that she was very reluctant to grant Peter the quickie divorce he wanted, but has done so after finally coming to terms with the fact that her marriage is over.

Katie admitted her sadness when questioned at the Clothes Show:

I haven’t felt this low in ages.

According to a close friend of the couple:

It’s sad, but she’s given up the fight. She now accepts she’s never getting Peter back, and is ready to move on with her life.

The two could now be divorced within a month as both have been speaking with divorce lawyers since their split. Peter Andre will leave the marriage with what he brought to it as he signed a pre-nup in 2005 with his wife.

Insiders say that the only thing worrying Peter now is what level of access he will have to his children.

Some people are serial divorcers, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins, Ross from Friends and Christie Brinkley. However, the former supermodel says that this divorce, from her fourth husband Peter Cook, will be her last.

Rather than saying she aims to find love and stick with a man, she’s stated that she’s had it with men and won’t get married again. Brinkley, whose former husbands include the rock star Billy Joel, stated:

I would never get married again. With what I know I don’t see why anyone would get married.

I totally believe in true love and I think couples should celebrate their love over and over again.

Brinkley was distressed by her most recent divorce after her husband cheated on her with a teenage girl who had been hired as an assistant. Brinkley says the publicity caused by the divorce, and the very public affair, has been very embarrassing for her.

I feel like I should apologise to everybody for them having to read all that tawdry stuff, and having it delivered to their kitchen tables when their kids are around.

Whether Brinkley will be able to stay away from men, away from marriage and out of the divorce courts for a fifth time is another matter.

Most Hollywood marriages are short lived; however, Mel and Robyn Gibson had been married for twenty eight years, until Robyn Gibson filed for divorce over ‘irreconcilable differences’ at the Superior Court in Los Angeles.

The couple married in 1980 without a prenuptial agreement. As such Robyn Gibson is thought to gain a large share of the actor’s earnings. She is also requesting the actor pays for spousal support and solicitor fees.

Furthermore, they have a big family of six sons and one daughter, Robyn asked for joint custody for one of their sons Tom who is the only one under eighteen.

The marriage had been on the rocks for a long time. The actor had gone through troubled times, being arrested for drink driving and making headlines with anti Semitic remarks.

However, it is rumoured that Mel’s alleged affair with Russian singer Oskana Grigorieva caused the divorce.

The actor has made a name for himself playing lead roles in movies such as Mad Max, Lethal Weapon and Braveheart.

The Passion of the Christ was Mel’s most successful and most lucrative movie which he wrote, produced and directed.

He also starred in a movie called What Women Want, which is ironic as his wife wants a half of his 1.2 billion dollar fortune, making their divorce the most expensive divorce in Hollywood history.

Twenty years with a powerful partner is not enough to keep a marriage alive. Apparently, you need a little more, judging from the filing for divorce by the wife of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Veronica Lario.

Most observers would agree that Ms Lario has had a bit to put up with. Her husband hits the headlines regularly, with newspapers gladly linking him to a string of attractive women.

In January 2007, Mr Berlusconi was obliged to issue a public apology to his wife, in reply to an open letter demanding his contrition that Ms Lario had written to the daily La Republica.

‘Please forgive me, and take this … as an act of love, one among many’, he said.

But it didn’t put an end to his wife’s suspicions, and it didn’t stop the buildup of disgust over the very public reports of Mr Berlusconi’s choice of candidates to represent his People of Freedom party at June’s European Union elections.

Among these were a former Miss Italy candidate, a TV actress and other bright-eyed young women with no discernible political nous.

‘Shamelessly trashy,’ is how Ms Lario described her husband’s process of the preselection of candidates.

Finally, Mr Berlusconi attended the birthday party in Naples of an 18-year-old, though, as Ms Lario said, he had missed the birthday parties of his own children.

Mr Berlusconi, however, remains as popular as ever, and Ms Lario’s decision to divorce him has attracted much criticism to Bersusconi’s centre right party website.

The sudden break-up and subsequent filing for divorce by the latest celebrity ‘golden couple’ – Jordan and Peter Andre – has put the focus of the nation firmly on the breakdown of relationships.
From the appearance on reality television, through the fairytale – some would say grotesque – wedding to the rumours and final announcement of the divorce, the pair have followed the “How to….” guide of the celebrity marriage almost to the letter.

However, while many will look to the split as the inevitable end to another “Hello magazine” drama, there is also the genuine drama that will befall the couple and their children.

With three very young children, including the well-documented disability of Jordan’s eldest Harvey, the fact that the divorce will be played out in the media will be difficult, although perhaps not so much as it may have been had the kids been older.

For many though, it is the children, the innocent victims of so many divorces, who need the most attention and help throughout the process.

The UK government has a few pointers for parents in helping children through the difficulty of a divorce.

These include listening to children and making sure they understand that the divorce is not their fault.

Parents are urged not to ask the youngster which parent they wish to live with, placing undue pressure on their child.

They are also encouraged to maintain the normal routines and stability of daily life, whether it be at school or at clubs.

Along with the government, the charity Action for Children runs a website called “It’s not your fault”.

This website provides specific help and advice for parents and children of all ages.

A spokesman for the directgov website said:

“Most childcare experts agree that it is important to keep your children informed at every stage of your separation or divorce. You are not protecting your children by keeping things from them.

“Tell your children what is happening to their family, it’s better for them to know. They don’t need every detail, but they do need enough information to know what is going on, depending upon their age.

“They may not wish to be involved in making decisions, but most children will still want to feel they are being listened to. Encourage them to ask questions and try to give them honest and reassuring answers, but don’t promise what you cannot deliver.

“If something is not yet decided, then say so and reassure them that you will tell them as soon as you can.”

You can find out more by visiting itsnotyourfault.org

Bernie Ecclestone, the owner of one of the richest sports in the world, Formula One, is facing a record divorce settlement from his former model wife, Slavica. Fifty-year-old Slavicia was granted a ‘quickie’ divorce on March 11th from her billionaire husband due to unreasonable behaviour.

The divorce leaves the F1 boss facing the prospect of a £1.2 billion divorce settlement.

Ecclestone is said to be worth as much as £2.4 billion, and his wife could claim half of that in the settlement. The couple have been married for 24 years, with Ecclestone being 28 years older than his former wife.

Should Slavicia receive the projected £1.2 billion, it would eclipse recent celebrity divorce payouts such as Madonna’s £50 million to Guy Ritchie, and former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney’s £24 million to Heather Mills.

The 24 year marriage between the pair ended in just 58 seconds in court, as Slavicia was granted her decree nisi. The F1 boss and the former model were married in 1985 and have two children together, daughters Tamara and Petra, aged twenty-four and nineteen.

The divorce settlement is expected to become very complicated as much of Ecclestone’s fortune is already in Slavicia’s name, believed to be for tax reasons.

Former Atomic Kitten and Queen of the Jungle, Kerry Katona, has confirmed that she is to divorce her husband Mark Croft. Katona was featured a video on the website for tabloid paper, the Sun, telephoning her publicist confirming that she is to divorce her husband.

In the video, Katona can be heard saying:

I’ve got a lawyer involved. Me and Mark are getting a divorce. We really are.

It is believed that the footage featured on the Sun’s website is taken from Katona’s latest reality TV show, which is made for MTV. After announcing her divorce, Katona turns and faces the camera, before stating:

All I can say is, you were all f*cking right.

Rumours of Katona’s divorce were abound last week as she reportedly changed her status from ‘married’ to ‘single’ on the social networking website Facebook. She married Mark Croft two years ago, after her relationship with Brian McFadden, formerly with Westlife, had ended.

Katona has two children with Croft, and another two children with McFadden.

Despite her well publicised problems, Katona has maintained her success with a renewed advertising deal with Iceland, and the aforementioned reality TV show on MTV.