Lisa Faulkner is now widely celebrated as one of British television’s most versatile and beloved figures — an accomplished actress, a warm on-screen presenter,

and a familiar face in kitchens across the country thanks to her successful career as a TV chef. Yet behind the polished public image and happy marriage

to MasterChef star John Torode lies a deeply personal story marked by heartbreak, resilience, and years of emotional struggle that almost broke her.

Lisa Faulkner and John Torode got married in 2019

Today, Lisa, 53, regularly delights viewers with cooking segments on This Morning and has co-hosted popular food series alongside John, her husband since 2019. Her journey to this chapter of stability and joy, however, was anything but straightforward. Before her high-profile romance with Torode, Lisa endured what she has since described as some of the “darkest times” of her life during her previous marriage to Emmerdale actor Chris Coghill.

Faulkner’s career trajectory had already made her a household name long before her culinary turn. With acclaimed roles in Holby City, Murdoch Mysteries, EastEnders, and Spooks, she built a reputation as a serious and respected actress. But in 2010, she surprised fans by stepping into an entirely new arena when she entered Celebrity MasterChef. That decision would ultimately change her life — not only professionally, but personally.

It was on MasterChef that Lisa first met John Torode. At the time, neither could have predicted how significant their connection would become. Their relationship grew slowly and quietly, away from the glare of instant headlines, and eventually blossomed into marriage nearly a decade later. But before that love story could unfold, Lisa had to come to terms with the painful collapse of her first marriage.

Lisa married Chris Coghill, now fondly remembered by Emmerdale viewers as Kev Townsend, in 2008. On the surface, the couple appeared to be living a picture-perfect life — attending red carpet events, sharing a successful life in the entertainment industry, and seemingly building a future together. Yet behind closed doors, they were facing private battles that placed unbearable strain on their relationship.

Central to that struggle was their heartbreaking journey with infertility. Lisa has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of trying — and failing — to conceive. After enduring three unsuccessful rounds of IVF and suffering an ectopic pregnancy, the actress found herself plunged into despair.

In a raw and deeply personal interview in 2024, Lisa finally opened up about how profoundly that period affected her marriage and mental health. Speaking to Good Housekeeping, she described those years as “a very dark time,” admitting the pain left scars that were difficult to heal.

Lisa Faulkner was previously married to Chris for six years

“Those years [battling infertility] were a very dark time,” she revealed. “One minute I wasn’t that bothered about kids, apart from my nieces, and then something happened overnight, and I wanted a baby so badly.”

What made the experience even more isolating was watching others around her start families with ease. As Lisa explained, she felt left behind as friends and peers moved on with their lives while she remained stuck in a cycle of hope and disappointment.

“All my peers were trying at the same time,” she said. “So it was like we were swimming in the same pool, but they kept getting pregnant and climbing out until, eventually, I was still swimming in there alone.”

The loneliness was crushing. Lisa admitted she felt like the exception — “the one in 10” — who didn’t get the happy ending she so desperately longed for. “It was really lonely,” she shared. “I thought, ‘Why me?’ It was exhausting.”

Despite the pain, Lisa and Chris eventually chose another path to parenthood, adopting their daughter Billie when she was just 17 months old. Now 19, Billie became the centre of Lisa’s world and remains one of her greatest sources of strength and pride. However, even the joy of motherhood could not fully repair the cracks that infertility had created within the marriage.

After six years together, Lisa and Chris separated in 2014, bringing their relationship to a quiet end. Looking back, Lisa has admitted she felt an overwhelming sense of failure — not just personally, but emotionally — for something she had hoped would last forever.

Following the breakup, Lisa focused on rebuilding her life as a single mother, prioritising Billie above all else. It was during this period of healing and reflection that her friendship with John Torode gradually deepened into something more meaningful. Yet even then, she approached love cautiously.

Lisa adopted Billie when she was 17 months old

Reflecting on the early days of her relationship with John, Lisa has said they deliberately took things slowly, especially with Billie in mind. “We took things really slowly because of Billie,” she explained. “And also because I’d been through the end of a marriage. We had a child, and I felt I’d failed in something I never wanted to fail at.”

Their patience paid off. Lisa and John married in 2019 and have since built a blended family that includes five children — Billie, John’s children Jonah, 19, and Lulu, 17, from a previous marriage, as well as his grown-up sons Casper and Marselle from his first wife, Jessica.

What makes their partnership work, Lisa believes, is mutual respect, affection, and genuine friendship. In a refreshingly honest admission, she once said the foundation of their marriage is simple but powerful: they truly enjoy each other’s company.

“We really like and fancy each other!” Lisa told the Mirror. “What I love about being married is that it’s about being a partnership. John and I are a good team. We know how to look after each other.”

Today, Lisa Faulkner’s story resonates with many who have faced loss, disappointment, and the fear of starting again. Her openness about infertility, heartbreak, and personal failure has helped shine a light on issues often hidden behind fame and success. From the dark days of her first marriage to the joy she now shares with John Torode, Lisa’s journey is a testament to resilience — and proof that even after the most painful chapters, new beginnings are still possible.