Actress Amanda Holden and television presenter Les Dennis have split after seven years of marriage, announcing their relationship "has come to an end".

They insisted there are no other parties involved in their decision to separate and the parting is amicable.

Holden, 31, said she had the "most enormous love and respect" for Dennis, adding: "We have been together for 10 years and we have tried hard to make our marriage work."

Former Family Fortunes host Dennis, 48, added: "Amanda and I have had a good marriage and I have no regrets.

"Sadly, we have grown apart recently and we both feel that it is time to move on.

The couple married in 1995

"I wish her good luck in all that she does in the future."

Holden, who stars in the BBC series Cutting It, had a high-profile affair with Men Behaving Badly actor Neil Morrissey in 2000.

But after a temporary split that year, Holden and Dennis reunited several weeks later.

Dennis recently featured in reality TV show Big Brother on Channel 4, and came second after being beaten by former Take That singer Mark Owen.

Age gap

Holden met Dennis at a party in Bournemouth before she made her name as an actress.

Despite Dennis' initial fears about the 17-year age gap they married in 1995.

Dennis has one son by a previous marriage, but he and Holden never had children of their own.

During his time in the Big Brother house there was concern for his mental welfare amid claims he was cracking under the strain of living under the glare of the cameras 24 hours a day.

Although he spoke openly about the press intrusion into his marriage since Holden's affair was revealed and struggled with the show's eviction process, his agent said he had been coping well.

Dennis left Family Fortunes in 2002 after nearly 15 years to concentrate on serious acting.

He has since had roles in Brookside and The Bill.