Shock as soap star couple call time on their relationship

After 16 years of marriage, Liam Fox, known for his role in Emmerdale as Dan Spencer, and Nicole Barber Lane, who plays Hollyoak's Myra McQueen have announced that their union has come to an end,

The couple who have two children together released an emotional statement this weekend, which read: "It is with much sadness that we confirm the end of our marriage, though our family unit remains. We'll always love and respect each other and are united by our children and family remaining at the centre of our lives."

The couple have decided to continuing living in the same house for the foreseeable future because they are determined to spend as much time together as a family before their teenage children Gemma and Ben reach adulthood.

Determined to play down any possible rumours that may surface following the shock announcement, a source close to the pair have said: "There was no one else involved in the split and it was a mutual decision."

The couple who first met in 1997 are asking for privacy during this difficult time.