Jackie O's estranged husband Lee Henderson looks downcast while taking his daughter Kitty to school as he's spotted for the first time since the couple's shock split announcement

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Published: 22:40 EDT, 25 October 2018 | Updated: 23:11 EDT, 25 October 2018

Jackie O's estranged husband Lee Henderson was spotted outside the former couple's marital home in Vaucluse, Sydney on Friday morning, just hours after it emerged they had split.

The British photographer, who is in his early forties, looked downcast in a grey T-shirt and jeans while taking his seven-year-old daughter Kitty to school.

The sighting followed Lee and Jackie's shock announcement overnight that they had mutually decided to separate after 18 years together.

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Moving on: Jackie O's estranged husband Lee Henderson looked downcast while taking his daughter to school on Friday morning. Pictured outside the couple's marital home in Vaucluse

Lee, who wore dark sunglasses and appeared unshaven, put on a brave face as he clutched Kitty's school backpack and walked towards his car.

After taking his daughter to school and returning home, he was seen bringing in his empty waste and recycling bins.

The martial arts enthusiast showed off his muscular biceps while lifting the containers from the sidewalk and over his white picket fence.

Casually dressed and deep in thought: The British photographer, who is in his early forties, looked downcast in a grey T-shirt and jeans

Daddy duties: Lee, who wore dark sunglasses and appeared unshaven, put on a brave face as he clutched Kitty's school backpack and walked towards his car

Chores: After taking his daughter to school and returning home, he was seen bringing in his empty waste and recycling bins

The sighting came shortly after Jackie addressed her and Lee's shock split on her KIIS FM breakfast show on Friday morning.

At around 8:30am, the 43-year-old said on air: 'Lee and I, we decided to separate.'

'It's not a decision we took lightly at all,' she added. 'We have been so lucky that our separation has been extremely amicable. And I know everyone says that, but we actually have remained really good friends throughout all this.'

He's been working out! The martial arts enthusiast showed off his muscular biceps while lifting the containers from the sidewalk and over his white picket fence

Continuing as normal? While Jackie has suggested that she and Lee are living apart following their separation, he was present at their marital home on Friday morning

Co-parents: Both Jackie and Lee have made it clear they are committed to raising their daughter in a loving and supportive environment despite their separation

Parenting roles: In the past, Lee has been described as a 'stay-at-home' father

Splitsville: The sighting came shortly after Jackie (right) addressed her and Lee's shock split on her KIIS FM breakfast show on Friday morning. Pictured with their daughter Kitty

Jackie emphasised that they still 'talk everyday on the phone' and 'hang out as a family' with their daughter Kitty, who is coping well amid the separation.

She explained the break-up 'didn't happen overnight' for the couple, who tied the knot in 2003, and that they have been separated 'for quite some time now'.

They are also determined to keep their split amicable for Kitty's sake.

It's over! Jackie explained the break-up 'didn't happen overnight' for the couple, who tied the knot in 2003, and that they have been separated 'for quite some time now'. Pictured with Lee

'We want [Kitty] to be part of a loving family,' she said.

In a rather surprising admission, Jackie's co-host Kyle Sandilands confessed he broke down in tears on Thursday after she spoke to him about her marriage split.

'I cried yesterday, didn't I? I didn't mean to upset you,' he said, adding that he had known about the separation 'for a while'.

'I cried yesterday, didn't I?' In a rather surprising admission, Jackie's co-host Kyle Sandilands (left) confessed he broke down in tears on Thursday after she spoke to him about her marriage split. Pictured together in Brisbane on October 12, 2013

It was the first time that Jackie had acknowledged her break-up during the program, which began at 6am on Friday.

In the previous two-and-a-half hours, her separation was not referenced on air during the show's usual segments.

Jackie and Lee confirmed their split on Friday, after 18 years together.

Co-parents: Jackie and Lee confirmed their separation on Friday, after 18 years together. In a statement, the radio announcer told Daily Mail Australia their 'focus' going forward is on their daughter Kitty

In a statement, the radio announcer told Daily Mail Australia their 'focus' going forward is on their daughter Kitty.

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

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

The Daily Telegraph reported overnight that the pair split 'some time ago' and noted that the mother-of-one skipped the ACRAs last weekend due to 'family reasons'.

Sad story: The Daily Telegraph reported overnight that the pair split 'some time ago' and noted that the mother-of-one skipped the ACRAs last weekend due to 'family reasons'

It comes after Jackie shared 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.

The photo gave no indication that they had separated months earlier and, in fact, presented them as a couple still very much in love.

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.

The getaway may have been a 'make or break' holiday for the pair.

During their trip, Jackie shared several bikini-clad photos of herself taken by Lee, leading fans to believe their relationship was in a good place.

The Hendersons certainly lived it up during their island getaway, with their villa featuring a private pool and a backyard overlooking a white sand beach.

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

The couple married in 2003, after meeting at a bar while Englishman Lee was backpacking around Australia.

They first crossed paths on March 18, 2000, when Jackie was 25 years old and spotted her future husband 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 last year.

Their story: Jackie and Lee married in 2003, after meeting at a bar while Englishman Lee was backpacking around Australia. Pictured together in 2010

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

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

After tying the knot, the pair welcomed their first child - daughter Kitty - in 2010.

Before her marriage to Lee, Jackie was married to British radio host 'Ugly' Phil O'Neil.

Big Fat Gypsy Wedding! Jackie and Lee renewed their vows during Kyle & Jackie O's Big Fat Gypsy Wedding at Curzon Hall in Sydney on August 31, 2012

Pretty in pink: The colourful wedding was broadcast live on The Kyle & Jackie O Show. Pictured with Kyle Sandilands (left)

Outrageous: Jackie arrived via a horse and carriage and wore a gaudy, oversized pink dress

Jackie and Phil married in 1994 when she was just 19 years old.

But their relationship was over by the late '90s, when Phil quit Australian radio and returned to his native UK.

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

Jackie recently made a rare public comment about her divorce from Phil, admitting on air how 'anxious' she had felt being single again.

She said: '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.'

Former flame: Before her relationship with Lee, Jackie was married to British radio host 'Ugly' Phil O'Neil (right). Pictured in an undated photo from the 1990s

Meanwhile on Friday, a KIIS FM radio segment originally recorded in June 2014 resurfaced, in which Jackie addressed her troubled marriage to Lee.

Apparently Kyle was oblivious to Jackie's marriage woes, and sounded shocked when she told him about their problems.

She said they once 'went through a period where [they] just couldn't get it together' and were 'constantly fighting'.

Jackie added: 'We just couldn't get back on track. We would fight non stop [about] nothing. We were completely out of sync and frustrated with each other.'

She further explained there were 'two times' when their relationship got so bad that they considered ending their marriage.

'We hung in there because we really love each other,' she said. '[But] there have been times when we almost wanted to call it a day.'

During the interview from four years ago, she even hinted that she and Lee had considered a separation before.

She said: 'I don't think we would [split] because we... even when you get to that point when you go, "Right let's maybe try a separation", you spend like one day apart and then you're like, "I can't do this". Because you want to be together.'

Heartbreak diet? In the months leading up to Jackie announcing her split with Lee, she lost a significant amount of weight. Pictured on holiday in Fiji in July (the photo was taken by Lee)

Furthermore, in the months leading up to Jackie announcing her split with Lee, she lost a significant amount of weight.

It is possible her 10kg slim-down was related to the stress of her separation, however she has not confirmed this.

During a segment on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in August, Jackie raised eyebrows by revealing her controversial day on a plate.

She claimed her usual diet consisted of coffee for breakfast, a single avocado at lunch, and chicken and vegetables for dinner.

After an eating disorder charity compared Jackie's meal plan to 'starvation', she defended herself by saying she does not follow the strict diet every single day.

She said at the time: 'It is not a starvation diet. What I should have clarified is that while I'm doing that [following her strict diet] on some days, I don't eat that every single day.

'If we want pizza, I'll have pizza. If we, you know, want to go out for phở, I'll eat that... If I wake up and I'm hungry, I have toast.'

Fate: Jackie and Lee first crossed paths on March 18, 2000, when the blonde was 25 years old and spotted her future husband at a bar in Sydney

Jackie continued: 'I don't stick to that [day on a plate] religiously. But, do you know what? When I do eat an avocado for lunch, I feel good! It makes me feel good.

'I do believe that on the days when I eat less, I feel better about myself, and I feel healthier. I actually feel sluggish when I eat [heavier foods].

'I'm not starving myself by any means. And I would never ever endorse that. I don't want anyone out there starving themselves to lose weight. It's not about starving yourself.'

A study by slimming product company Forza Supplements in 2014 revealed the science behind the so-called 'heartbreak' diet.

Research revealed that women lose on average 5lbs [2.2kg] in the first month after a split, if they did not initiate it, and 3lbs [1.3kg] if they did initiate the split.