Lucy Atherton: "The press have been blamed for putting their relationship under pressure"

Carla Germaine, 23, and Greg Cordell, 28, were selected to marry in January after winning the competition organised by Birmingham-based BRMB radio station.

The newly-weds were featured in the ITV documentary Two Strangers and a Wedding. As part of their prize, they went on a honeymoon in the Bahamas, and had the use of a luxury flat and car for a year if they stayed together.

Greg was "gobsmacked" when he first saw Carla

But in a statement, they said they could "no longer live together as a married couple".

"We remain close friends and have no regrets," they said, blaming media intrusion for putting unbearable pressure on their relationship.

The couple were brought together by a team of counsellors and astrologers, who decided they were suitably matched. But this was given short shrift by church leaders and relationship counsellors, who said they had "cheapened" marriage.

After their honeymoon, there was great speculation in the press as to whether they had consummated their marriage.

'Very, very happy'

The couple refused to answer, but Carla said: "All I can say is, we spent every night together during two fabulous weeks in the Bahamas, and we spent last night together in our own flat."

She had said she was "very, very happy" but added: "You will have to make up your own minds."