Gogglebox's Daniel Lustig breaks silence on shock split from co-star husband Stephen Webb: 'You never think it'll happen to you'
Since they first appeared together on Channel 4's iconic Gogglebox, hair stylists Daniel Lustig and Stephen Webb quickly became reality royalty, loved by a nation of devoted telly watchers. But when they announced their shock divorce earlier this year, it triggered a sort of mass grief on behalf of the husband-and-husband - and of course their three beloved poodle dogs.
In his first major exclusive interview since the news broke, 49-year-old Daniel told OK! what led to the split, and how they made the difficult decision to announce it to the public. "Neither one of us wanted to be unhappy and when we called time on it, yes it was very upsetting because when you get married and walk down the aisle you don’t think that’s ever going to happen, you can't think that, you have to think positively,” he shared.
The couple decided to separate last year and announced it in April, six years after trying the knot at the majestic Chateau de Lisse in Lot-et-Garonne, France. There was nothing "scandalous" behind the decision, Daniel said, but they realised they were better and happier as "friends with no benefits".
“We got to the point where we’d talked about the breakup, about why we were breaking up, how we were going to go through it, and how we were both feeling. “When we both felt in a stable place and a bit more confident, and also there for each other, that’s when we put it out."
As well as being husband and husband, they also run two hugely successful hair salon businesses (and still have plans to open a third) and of course share their dogs Betsy, Babs and Princess, who make regular appearances on the plush sofa of the couple's Brighton apartment.
While they fivesome is currently still living under the same roof, the plan is to go their separate ways once the flat - which they bought in 2021 - is sold. The slightly unconventional set-up is working well for now, Daniel said, with him "still cooking the dinners and Stephen still doing my laundry!".
In another twist, Stephen recently began filming Celebs Go Dating in an attempt to find a new romantic relationship.
Alongside the likes of Corrie's Helen Flanagan and Married at First Sight bride Ella Morgan, Stephen has put himself in the capable hands of dating gurus Anna Williamson and Paul Brunson to find him his new Mr Right.
While Daniel admits it's "a bit weird" chatting to his live-in ex about his dates, he's thrilled for Stephen, 52. “He’s off filming and he’ll come out and we’ll have a debrief about it. He doesn’t have to tell me anything, and he doesn’t tell me everything, but if there’s something on his mind we’ll talk it through."
