'Our focus for this next chapter is of course our wonderful daughter': Jackie 'O' Henderson SPLITS with husband Lee after 18 years together… as the couple insist they will 'remain best friends'

By Chloe-lee Longhetti and Ekin Karasin For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:34 EDT, 25 October 2018 | Updated: 11:10 EDT, 25 October 2018

KIIS FM star Jackie 'O' has split from her British photographer husband, Lee Henderson, after 18 years together.

The 43-year-old media personality announced the shock news on Friday, with the pair saying they will 'remain best friends.'

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Jackie said their 'focus' going forward is on their daughter Kitty, seven.

'Our focus for this next chapter is of course our wonderful daughter': Jackie 'O' Henderson SPLITS with husband Lee after 18 years together… as the couple insist they will 'remain best friends' (the family are pictured together)

'Our focus for this next chapter is of course our wonderful daughter': Jackie 'O' Henderson SPLITS with husband Lee after 18 years together… as the couple insist they will 'remain best friends' (the family are pictured together)

'After 18 years together, we have made the decision to separate. We do so amicably, sharing many incredible memories and remaining best friends,' the radio star said.

'Our focus for this next chapter is of course our wonderful daughter and continuing to provide her love and happiness, together.'

The publication reports the pair split 'some time ago' and notes that the mother-of-one skipped the Commercial Radio Awards last weekend, due to 'family reasons.'

It's over: 'After 18 years together, we have made the decision to separate. We do so amicably, sharing many incredible memories and remaining best friends,' Jackie said

It's over: 'After 18 years together, we have made the decision to separate. We do so amicably, sharing many incredible memories and remaining best friends,' Jackie said

Their number one priority: The KIIS radio host added: 'Our focus for this next chapter is of course our wonderful daughter and continuing to provide her love and happiness, together'

Their number one priority: The KIIS radio host added: 'Our focus for this next chapter is of course our wonderful daughter and continuing to provide her love and happiness, together'

Sad: The publication reports the pair split 'some time' ago and notes that the mother-of-one skipped the Commercial Radio Awards last weekend, due to 'family reasons'

Sad: The publication reports the pair split 'some time' ago and notes that the mother-of-one skipped the Commercial Radio Awards last weekend, due to 'family reasons'

It comes after Jackie posted a picture of herself with Lee and Kitty on Instagram, just five days ago. 

She captioned the snap: 'Family,' adding a love heart emoji and tagging Lee. 

In July, the family enjoyed a holiday at one of their favourite spots, the exclusive Kokomo Private Island resort in Fiji, where rooms average $4,500 a night.

What went wrong? In July, the family enjoyed a holiday at one of their favourite spots, the exclusive Kokomo Private Island resort in Fiji, where rooms average $4,500 a night

What went wrong? In July, the family enjoyed a holiday at one of their favourite spots, the exclusive Kokomo Private Island resort in Fiji, where rooms average $4,500 a night

Jackie and Lee married in 2003, after meeting at a bar when Lee was backpacking around Australia.  

They met on March 18 in 2000, when Jackie was 25 years old and spotted Lee at a bar in Sydney.

'We were about to leave, and it's like everything around me went quiet and the whole room came to a standstill. I saw gorgeous Lee across the room,' she said on-air.

Their story: Jackie and Lee married in 2003, after meeting at a bar when Lee was backpacking around Australia (pictured together in 2010)

Their story: Jackie and Lee married in 2003, after meeting at a bar when Lee was backpacking around Australia (pictured together in 2010)

Sweet: 'We were about to leave, and it's like everything around me went quiet and the whole room came to a standstill. I saw gorgeous Lee across the room,' Jackie later recalled

Sweet: 'We were about to leave, and it's like everything around me went quiet and the whole room came to a standstill. I saw gorgeous Lee across the room,' Jackie later recalled

Lee, then 24, apparently took his time pursuing Jackie, who described him in her diary afterwards as a 'hot Hugh Grant.'

'I was surprised to hear from him actually. I really didn't think he'd call at all,' Jackie recently said on-air, reflecting on their early relationship. 

Before her marriage to Lee, Jackie was married to radio host Phil O'Neill, her former co-host dubbed 'Ugly Phil.'

The pair married in 1994 when Jackie was just 19. 

Former flame: Before her marriage to Lee, Jackie was married to radio host Phil O'Neill (R), her former co-host dubbed 'Ugly Phil'

Former flame: Before her marriage to Lee, Jackie was married to radio host Phil O'Neill (R), her former co-host dubbed 'Ugly Phil'

The British DJ briefly returned to the spotlight in May when Jackie made a rare public comment about their divorce, admitting how 'anxious' she had felt being single again.

At the time, she said on her radio show The Kyle and Jackie O Show: 'I remember when I split up from my first husband and I had a period of being single. I just had that anxiousness of constantly wanting to find someone.' 

'I've never been happy on my own.' 

'I've never been happy on my own': The British DJ briefly returned to the spotlight in May when Jackie made a rare public comment about their divorce, admitting how 'anxious' she had felt being single again

'I've never been happy on my own': The British DJ briefly returned to the spotlight in May when Jackie made a rare public comment about their divorce, admitting how 'anxious' she had felt being single again

She was only young: Jackie, then aged 18, reportedly first met Phil in 1993 when she called into his Gold Coast radio show to try to win tickets

She was only young: Jackie, then aged 18, reportedly first met Phil in 1993 when she called into his Gold Coast radio show to try to win tickets

While Jackie has gone on to achieve huge success in Australian FM radio since their split, Ugly Phil, now 55, has kept a comparatively lower profile.  

Jackie, then aged 18, reportedly first met Phil in 1993 when she called into his Gold Coast radio show to try to win tickets.

A year later, the pair were married and, by 1996, she was his co-host on the Hot 30 Countdown.

But three years later, Phil abruptly quit his job, their marriage ended and he moved to London for another radio job.

Phil was replaced by Kyle Sandilands, forming the 'Kyle and Jackie O' partnership.  

Co-stars: After Jackie and Phil's split personally and professionally, he was replaced by Kyle Sandilands (pictured) on radio

 

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Jackie 'O' Henderson SPLITS with husband Lee after 18 years together

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