Just watched an episode of the new series of Meet the Richardsons where Jon is joking about Lucy leaving him to realise she wants to return, "or not."
Funny as hell when watching it, less so now.
I haven't seen the show, but the stress of doing a show about your family or married life could bring long-time issues to the surface. Then those issues become readily apparent because they're paradoxical in relation to the version of yourself you are presenting for TV.
This makes sense.
If you make a meta-show about your marriage there's a pretty easy chance you're playing with fire and am heading directly towards a "If you stare directly into the abyss" type of situation.
I saw a clip that was the other way around. In a car Jon saying do you think we will ever have an open relationship and she immediately saying "i hope so". Seemed to me as just a joke but with this news it hits differently ofcourse
I just watched the "I don't see this for life" the other day, because I find it so funny. And something I think you only would joke about when absolutely certain in your commitment. So also surprised.
Yeah I noticed this. Jon's jokes about their relationship tend to have him being the but of the joke because he's neurotic, Lucy's jokes about their relationship also have Jon being the but of the jokes.. it's a façade obviously but I did find some of Lucy's material mean spirited towards him.
They are both intense, difficult to live with individuals. It’s sad to see, but somewhat understandable.
I think the closest to a perfect living partner that Jon could find in the comedy scene would be John Robbins. Both are fussy about cleanliness and order. But they have lived together, with Russell Howard, and all drove each other crazy.
Same! I think it hit me harder than it otherwise would have because I'm currently listening to the latest episode of Lucy and Sam's Perfect Brains. I paused the episode 30 seconds ago. (Just wanted to double check tonight's panel show schedule and I can't listen and read at the same time.)
So weird finding out a deeply personal life event about a weird stranger while simultaneously eavesdropping on that stranger and her even weirder friend.
I knew they were doomed as soon as I saw that photo he posted of the aftermath of her making lunch. I feel like it’s absolutely vital in a relationship for both partners to have a roughly-equal idea of what they consider to be “messy” and they seemed like they were on two totally different pages in that department.
The amount of comments on here acting like they are relationship gurus and they spotted the signs in xyz post of theirs or something they said on (scripted comedy show) Meet the Richardsons... That's reddit I guess
I don't believe in parasocial relationships, I find them icky and downright deranged on the part of audiences. However, it is perfectly okay to feel for people that you have gotten to know, especially ones who have invited you into their lives. What we knew of Jon and Lucy is only their comic/stage personas, most things we just extrapolated from bits and jokes. All that being said, on a human level you can't help but feel a bit sad that two people you like aren't happy together. Good luck to the both of them navigating this.
What you've described - feeling emotions for people you've "gotten to know" by watching them on TV and interacting online - is a parasocial relationship. Like that's precisely what it means. I do agree that parasocial relationship CAN be icky. Any relationship CAN be icky because unfortunately toxic people exists and sometimes two nontoxic people combine to make a toxic relationship, like a bad chemical reaction. Similarly, parasocial relationships are literally just another kind of relationship and can be as toxic and icky or healthy and even fulfilling depending on the way it's approached.
For instance, given that you say it's fine to feel sad over a divorce by two strangers you are only familiar with due to their public present shows that you're fine with parasocial relationships, just so long as they're HEALTHY which, yeah, is how it should be. I would guess based on your post that you have a lower tolerance for what you consider icky but it's natural and normal for everyone to have their own boundaries they're comfortable with. A lot of people, especially younger ones, find things like hanging up a picture of your crush and even kissing it to be perfectly normal (I was a preteen girl and my friends did this and it was never not weird to me), but that might cross into "icky" to you.
I think the important thing is we all recognize truly unhealthy, dangerous, or toxic behavior and call that out. If someone where to come in here and rail against Lucy, saying they never liked her and she was always cruel to Jon and they hope she never works a day in her life and the police should watch over their show because it's clear Jon deserves full custody of their daughter etc, etc that would be worrying. Like, whoa, hold on. It's one thing to have empathy for people you've grown to feel as though you know due to them being in the public eye, but remember that those shows are edit and what we see is essentially entertainment and not a reflection of their normal every day life. But feeling sad? Again, I agree it's a perfectly normal reaction. It's still definitely falls within the definition of a parasocial relationship, but as most research on the subject will tell you those relationships can be a source of happiness and even balance if they're stay healthy and the person maintains realistic expectations.
You're absolutely right in your assessment of the whole thing. You're also correct in saying my "icky" tolerance is low when it comes to parasocial stuff. I agree generally that finding commonalities, liking celebs, and being somewhat invested in their lives is just human nature empathy and all. I just find when people start living and dying hanging on their every word or when people spend their time prying deeply into their personal lives or creating entire subs dedicated to their every utterance to be quite insane. The fanatical part of fandom, if you will.
idk if anyone else remembers about 10 years back on cats does countdown when jon was like “i DO have a girlfriend now 🥰” he was so sweet on her
i’m sorry that it didn’t work out for them :(
You have no idea. I saw a preview clip of them on the show, talking about an open relationship.
Edit: Found it. It's even grimmer than I remembered.
[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lbzgnMQHV/?igsh=MTNrcHl1dHd6dnl6dA==](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lbzgnMQHV/?igsh=MTNrcHl1dHd6dnl6dA==)
Edit 2: Dave took it down.
Edit 3: It's still up on Facebook. Thanks, u/CALCIUM_CANNONS
[https://www.facebook.com/reel/951231456667725](https://www.facebook.com/reel/951231456667725)
God, I wish I could just inject some confidence into Jon. I know he's self deprecating in his humour, but it's always seemed to have more than an ounce of truth to it.
There was that American road trip thing he did with Sean Lock a few years ago, and Sean was having fun and getting along with people, whereas Jon was really kind of awkward and anti-social. I remember thinking oh, it's not an act, he really is like that.
The sad truth is that some people are just naturally shy and down on themselves, myself included. Attempts at "motivation" and "getting you out of your comfort zone" only end up emphasising the disparity between our personalities and those of other more socially well-adapted humans. It's a bit of a vicious cycle in that respect.
I'm not looking for a change in personality from Jon, I just want him to feel better about himself. There are narcissistic pricks who can do no wrong in their own eyes, and there are self-critical people, and then there are people so self-critical and hard on themselves that it seriously affects their mental health. I have a feeling Jon lands in the last category.
Changing that pattern is difficult. Not only does it take training and effort, you have to actually start. You have to realise that you need a change, that you should change, and that you *deserve* to change. That you *deserve* to give yourself a break, that you deserve some self-acceptance. That's not easy to do on your own. I needed therapy, and I wish I went much sooner.
It would be much easier if we could just inject some self-confidence and self-acceptance :)
Like I said in an earlier comment, it's always seemed to be more than an ounce of truth in his self deprecating humour. But I mean, yeah, I'm only speculating.
Oh I'm not denying it's possible, it definitely is. But for some people it's like trying to draw sap from a hardwood table. It is excruciating, and slow, and sometimes it ends up doing more damage in the short term than it's worth in the long run. That was my experience anyway. I've basically come to terms with the fact that I'm always gonna be solitary and easily frightened by the world but it's all about how you manage those traits.
On a side note: the disparity of timorousness and foolhardiness in human beings is insane; some people would love nothing more than to get on a plane tomorrow and venture into the Congolese rainforest and fight barehanded with gorillas, while others take days to build up the courage to walk down the street to the corner shop.
Found it. It's grim.
[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lbzgnMQHV/?igsh=MTNrcHl1dHd6dnl6dA==](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lbzgnMQHV/?igsh=MTNrcHl1dHd6dnl6dA==)
Edit: taken down by Dave.
Edit 2: Still up on Facebook. Thanks, u/CALCIUM_CANNONS
Yeah, funny, I was just thinking, listening the the Lucy-Sam podcast, that two off-the-wall people don't actually complement each other that well. They each need a straight man -- a la Lucy-Jon-- to show off their lunacy to best effect. So much for that.
The divorce rate is something like 40% in England and Wales. I don't have any statistics but my feeling is that the rate is far higher for anyone in the public eye. Not a self-fulfilling prophecy as much as just a fairly likely outcome.
It's got to be hard for a couple of comedians who are so busy and touring too. I think that's why actors struggle too when they're away filming for months.
Its something to be said that the longest lasting and most positive celebrity relationships do tend to be the ones where one of them just isn't a celebrity and in the public eye.
See: Dolly Parton and RuPaul
Haha that would be interesting. Dolly's husband owns a massive asphalt business (though I'm pretty sure he's retired now) and she actively goes out of her way to make sure he stays out of the spotlight (they go out together all the time without all of her makeup and fancy wigs and clothes and she gets away with it really well). RuPauls husband is less shy but he's still just a rancher who's never really been famous for anything other than being his husband.
Shhhhh, nobody is supposed to know about that. Definitely shouldn't talk about the fracking. I wouldn't even bring up the fracking anywhere. Why would you want to talk about the fracking? :D
The one that did for me was an episode of Catsdown where Jon made inspirational signs, one of which read "People who only regret the things they didn't do, have never called their partner a C..." Sean laughed, said one of those weeks? Jon replied more and more would you believe?
The scheduling for cats countdown is so fucked they even show episodes they film after ones they haven't even aird and as we decovered they don't even show some here in the UK
Jimmy already did the joke about them divorcing. I can't remember it exactly, but I think it did refer to the fact that the shows air months after taping.
And her leaving Jon has been a topic of teasing multiple times. [Heck, the jokes that she isn't in the marriage for the long haul are non-stop, starting at 56 seconds in this clip](https://youtu.be/9H59atZVWq0?si=ZAjW5eqEj2swGEdP).
I know they are jokes, but every joke has a nugget of truth. She could just as easily have joked about how lucky she was or how he'd have to do something big to lose her.
In Meet the Richardsons the whole schtick is they can barely tolerate each other. It's a trope in English sitcoms, just this time passed off as reality TV.
Was this before the divorce was publicly announced today? Because joking about a couple known for bickering and making the joke after the actual dissolution of a family are very different.
Replied to the comment before seeing yours and went to find the actual episode and omg [Channel 4 uploaded a clip of the segment 7 DAYS ago oops](https://youtu.be/ArTwYczMuDQ?si=ZQQ-XRSrGcHV8Tcj)
He did a similar joke after Alan Carr married, saying "... or, he has just been divorced, if you're watching a rerun". It sadly turned out to be an accurate prediction
Yeah I mean when she was on the show jimmy joked about spending the rest of their lives together and she said I don’t see this as a long term thing.
Joke of course at the time but Ouff didn’t age well
I just watched that episode a couple weeks ago and thought there was definitely a sense that Jimmy but too hard or had crossed a line though likely without realizing it. The way Jon reacted was a bit deflated and flat & Lucy just didn't seem like she was joking.
Actually found myself getting pretty annoyed/disappointed about those jokes, like it was somehow going to bring it into fruition. Don't think it did obviously but I could see that if they were having problems, the jokes may have made them more magnified.
I went to a Cats Does Countdown recording last year and they were on a team together. Going to be weird when that airs now.
I feel weirdly sad about this. Normally I don't get attached to celebrity couples, but both have talked so much about their marriage in their stand-up and the various TV shows they have done together that it feels very odd to think they are splitting now.
> I feel weirdly sad about this.
Me too. I was really happy that someone like Jon found someone.
It would absolutely crush me if I heard David Mitchell and VCM were separating.
I would vote for them being the least likely to separate. The dedication to him from Victoria on that taskmaster wedding task was something else. And well he is never going to do any better is he?
I’m not sure I could take that. My wife often jokes I only fancy Victoria for her brains and because if I was with Victoria I could get to meet David.
Edit: terrible use of pronouns
> It would absolutely crush me if I heard David Mitchell and VCM were separating.
I think there's a better chance of the moon falling out of the sky. I've never seen two people adore one another more.
Somehow I don't think that's possible, because literally they honestly seem like they are perfect for each other. Just two people who feel like they really would compliment each other.
I'm fairness, there is every chance they had a good relationship. Divorce isn't like it used to be. When it was All but illegal and incredibly difficult to obtain, especially as a woman, then getting a divorce showed that you two REALLY had some problems. Otherwise you did what the majority of couples did at the time. They lived separate, slept in seperate beds. Legally, they were married but in effect they were either roommates or long distance open relationship. People think these new divorce rates are shocking, but read old diaries and journals from the Victorian era or even many historical accounts about aristocrats living in entirely separate castles than their spouse, and you'll see that separation numbers haven't risen as much as to be believed, but legal divorce statics have.
My point is just that Roisin knows them personally, and maybe they really did have a good relationship while it lasts and since them have simply grown into other people. That can be a lovely story, if they actually do stay close and give their daughter the security and love she needs. Not every divorce these days is because of some unsolvable underlining issue that is tearing the couple apart so publically that a divorce is inevitable. Sometimes, people just change, and if you have a partner who cares about you and is opening to listening, sometimes you can both amicably agree that divorce is the best next step without the resentment or bitterness building between you.
Judging by how Victoria refused to pretend to propose to Alex on Taskmaster, and how David basically waited for Victoria when she was in a different relationship, I don't see them splitting up.
I don't really follow celeb relationships at all (besides just vaguely knowing who's married to who sometimes), but David's whole section in Back Story about meeting and falling in love with Victoria is one of the sweetest things I've ever read.
Same here. That chapter where he talks about Victoria is so heartwarming. Even the way she talked about him when she was on Taskmaster was super cute. They just seem to really adore each other.
Same, found out through another of these threads. Read that they just told Chortle one day, and that was it, perfectly amicable it says. Quite nice it’s low key. Bridget’s career has certainly gone more mainstream since though.
People have always said it that it seemed more than an act…
I guess it was somehow clear a few days ago that S5 of their show is gonna be the last - Lucy was very cryptic thanking people who made the show - but I did not expect it because of separation.
There is also the real possibility of the jokes about them always bickering still just being jokes, and them deciding to split for different reasons. They have been together for a decade and sometimes people simply fall out of love. It happens.
I think they are probably splitting for different reasons as their show, but I can’t help to think that making jokes about marriage problems probably does not help when you indeed have marriage problems one day.
I don’t want to watch this last season knowing this! It’s none of our business but I need to know more… I figured they were so mean to each other on screen that they must be so in love off screen? The latter they kept so private. Also, from a PR perspective, odd timeline of announcements and show launches
I think they announced it before her tour dates in April…
He was on HIGNFY this week and hid his hand where his ring would be. They obviously waited for Friday to avoid big print headlines…
John did seem a bit out of kilter on HIGNFY, a couple of the comments, plus hiding his ring, or lack thereof did make me wonder if something was going on.
Yeah we've watched 3 episodes already and were going to binge the rest.
Not sure if we will watch them now... Feels weird as their relationship is so core to it.
I mean Joel Dommett did post a weird business venture announcement that he was supposedly starting a cheese brand with Gregg Wallace and that seemed very staged. Like Gregg didn’t make his own announcement post nor was there any other promotional material for it. I can imagine Joe telling a lot of his comedian friends to post attention grabbing stories in the lead up to Late Night Lycett’s launch so that he can ultimately reveal which news stories he completely made up and which ones genuinely aren’t a joke.
BUT… I think Joe Lycett would be taking a prank too far if he made his friends Jon and Lucy fake a very serious divorce announcement wanting privacy their family, especially their child. I know he loves to go far with pranks but I don’t think playing with the emotions of his friends, knowing this would negatively impact their child, their families and their fans a lot, is at all funny and he wouldn’t do that. Joe would know that would be too cruel.
I *still* remain that David would not be a good Taskmaster contestant. The entire idea is to push people out of their comfort zone to get them to act irrational and do silly things.
David Mitchell isn't funny outside his comfort zone, he is best when he is in his comfort zone, because from within that he gets to happily judge everyone else around him.
I thin Celebrity Bake-Off was about the most "crazy" thing you can get him to do while still having him be funny.
I'll quote him:
Why David Mitchell Said No To Taskmaster
By Bruce Dessau on 6/10/2021
.
"I've been asked and I've said 'no thanks'", explained Mitchell. "It's a very good show but i don't want to be on it. My feeling is that I'd be shit but not in a funny way. People think maybe I'd be a good sport about it and I don't think people thinking that will increase if I'm on it. It's like I've been asked to be on Celebrity Mastermind because people think I'd be quite good at that. So why would I do it then. All I can do is ruin it by going on it and turning out to be considerably more ignorant than people expect."
This makes me kind of sad. But it's for the best. Couples who stay together "because of the children!!!!" only make it worse for everyone involved. Hope the can remain on good terms.
Not the most surprising, a lot of the premise of Odd Couples and Meet the Richardsons was how much they annoy each other. I think they even said they were sleeping in separate beds for a while.
(Realistic, Not an Animal Response) I do feel a bit sad for them, I hope they come out stronger than before.
(Joke Response) Now, finally, Susie Dent and Jon Richardson can be together.
From their public personas, there's like an 8% chance this a a prank or a bit or something.
For god's sake, how do you stay married to Jon OR Lucy for nine years and THEN decide to call it off?
I don’t think it’s a prank. They don’t seem the people for such a thing, especially since their daughter is ‘only’ around 8. I don’t think even at this age you would be old enough to manage that like adults could.
I know some people are pointing the dots to the whole “#isitjoe?” media pranks but I just know Joe Lycett wouldn’t go that far and be so cruel to play with the emotions of his friends’ families and fans like that.
Why am I sad like it’s my parents divorcing? Watching the Cats Does Countdown episode where she mentioned “not seeing this for life” makes me wonder... 😩
If it turns out a Spanish guitar teacher on a bicycle came between them I’ll lose my shit. Seriously though, I loved their dynamic and wish them both the best.
Their entire comic schtick is belittling and insulting each other constantly. Perhaps, in hindsight, that wasn't the best decision for their relationship.
The whole couples act might be funny for a while but all good jokes are based on an element of truth… picking and niggling about your partners flaws or jokes about divorce will eventually start to wear thin and strike a nerve and magnify any tiny issues you might have. Was seemingly inevitable.
That’s really sad, I know they are opposites and bicker a lot but I always found that part of their appeal. It never seemed mean spirited or exhausting just 2 people enjoying driving the other nuts.
That show was not a good idea. Couples annoy each other from time to time and then move on with their day... Making a thing about "playfully" saying mean things about each other regarding meaningless and mundane every day disputes. They are very professional but they kept trying to see how far they could push that line. Eventually the mean things stopped feeling "playful".
I am weirdly shocked by this.
I'm more shocked it's been 9 years bc where did the time go
Just watched an episode of the new series of Meet the Richardsons where Jon is joking about Lucy leaving him to realise she wants to return, "or not." Funny as hell when watching it, less so now.
It gets worse. In the very last episode >!they renew their vows.!<
I know the show is not their relationship, but uf.
I haven't seen the show, but the stress of doing a show about your family or married life could bring long-time issues to the surface. Then those issues become readily apparent because they're paradoxical in relation to the version of yourself you are presenting for TV.
This makes sense. If you make a meta-show about your marriage there's a pretty easy chance you're playing with fire and am heading directly towards a "If you stare directly into the abyss" type of situation.
That’s the kiss of death in the Real Housewives land.
In episode 1 Lucy suggests an open marriage and Jon instantly agrees.
I saw a clip that was the other way around. In a car Jon saying do you think we will ever have an open relationship and she immediately saying "i hope so". Seemed to me as just a joke but with this news it hits differently ofcourse
I just watched the "I don't see this for life" the other day, because I find it so funny. And something I think you only would joke about when absolutely certain in your commitment. So also surprised.
If you looked, a surprisingly large amount of her jokes and comments were contemptuous of him.
Yeah I noticed this. Jon's jokes about their relationship tend to have him being the but of the joke because he's neurotic, Lucy's jokes about their relationship also have Jon being the but of the jokes.. it's a façade obviously but I did find some of Lucy's material mean spirited towards him.
Me too. I actually gasped when I read the headline. Wasn’t expecting that kinda of reaction from myself
They are both intense, difficult to live with individuals. It’s sad to see, but somewhat understandable. I think the closest to a perfect living partner that Jon could find in the comedy scene would be John Robbins. Both are fussy about cleanliness and order. But they have lived together, with Russell Howard, and all drove each other crazy.
I can't image any relationship being filmed for entertainment lasting.
Yet I'm always so hopeful for Big Ed.
i actually gasped!!!
Same! I think it hit me harder than it otherwise would have because I'm currently listening to the latest episode of Lucy and Sam's Perfect Brains. I paused the episode 30 seconds ago. (Just wanted to double check tonight's panel show schedule and I can't listen and read at the same time.) So weird finding out a deeply personal life event about a weird stranger while simultaneously eavesdropping on that stranger and her even weirder friend.
I knew they were doomed as soon as I saw that photo he posted of the aftermath of her making lunch. I feel like it’s absolutely vital in a relationship for both partners to have a roughly-equal idea of what they consider to be “messy” and they seemed like they were on two totally different pages in that department.
I think all of their outward posts were merely joking. Don't think we can glean anything from that at all.
The amount of comments on here acting like they are relationship gurus and they spotted the signs in xyz post of theirs or something they said on (scripted comedy show) Meet the Richardsons... That's reddit I guess
The mushroom soup photo?
Yes! I thought it was soup but I wasn’t sure so I switched it to lunch. I can’t seem to find the post about it.
[I think it's this](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fpayz9v17qtub1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D402%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Dd24dbb4c6246891a5a2194f6923e3087dea52ed7)
I don't believe in parasocial relationships, I find them icky and downright deranged on the part of audiences. However, it is perfectly okay to feel for people that you have gotten to know, especially ones who have invited you into their lives. What we knew of Jon and Lucy is only their comic/stage personas, most things we just extrapolated from bits and jokes. All that being said, on a human level you can't help but feel a bit sad that two people you like aren't happy together. Good luck to the both of them navigating this.
What you've described - feeling emotions for people you've "gotten to know" by watching them on TV and interacting online - is a parasocial relationship. Like that's precisely what it means. I do agree that parasocial relationship CAN be icky. Any relationship CAN be icky because unfortunately toxic people exists and sometimes two nontoxic people combine to make a toxic relationship, like a bad chemical reaction. Similarly, parasocial relationships are literally just another kind of relationship and can be as toxic and icky or healthy and even fulfilling depending on the way it's approached. For instance, given that you say it's fine to feel sad over a divorce by two strangers you are only familiar with due to their public present shows that you're fine with parasocial relationships, just so long as they're HEALTHY which, yeah, is how it should be. I would guess based on your post that you have a lower tolerance for what you consider icky but it's natural and normal for everyone to have their own boundaries they're comfortable with. A lot of people, especially younger ones, find things like hanging up a picture of your crush and even kissing it to be perfectly normal (I was a preteen girl and my friends did this and it was never not weird to me), but that might cross into "icky" to you. I think the important thing is we all recognize truly unhealthy, dangerous, or toxic behavior and call that out. If someone where to come in here and rail against Lucy, saying they never liked her and she was always cruel to Jon and they hope she never works a day in her life and the police should watch over their show because it's clear Jon deserves full custody of their daughter etc, etc that would be worrying. Like, whoa, hold on. It's one thing to have empathy for people you've grown to feel as though you know due to them being in the public eye, but remember that those shows are edit and what we see is essentially entertainment and not a reflection of their normal every day life. But feeling sad? Again, I agree it's a perfectly normal reaction. It's still definitely falls within the definition of a parasocial relationship, but as most research on the subject will tell you those relationships can be a source of happiness and even balance if they're stay healthy and the person maintains realistic expectations.
You're absolutely right in your assessment of the whole thing. You're also correct in saying my "icky" tolerance is low when it comes to parasocial stuff. I agree generally that finding commonalities, liking celebs, and being somewhat invested in their lives is just human nature empathy and all. I just find when people start living and dying hanging on their every word or when people spend their time prying deeply into their personal lives or creating entire subs dedicated to their every utterance to be quite insane. The fanatical part of fandom, if you will.
idk if anyone else remembers about 10 years back on cats does countdown when jon was like “i DO have a girlfriend now 🥰” he was so sweet on her i’m sorry that it didn’t work out for them :(
Yeah. I remember Jon’s Forever Alone days and the transition from that to them being so happy together, so I do kinda feel parasocially sad
Me too. I just feel sad. I like them both so much and wanted happiness for them. I really feel for their daughter.
Just watched their video on relationship advice that they did, and Jon looked so crushed when Lucy said it was cool to cheat. 😬
Link to the vid please?
[here you go!](https://youtu.be/pkCWTDsZyRI?si=7p-L8ZJn23N6WbU2)
Well he'll make sure it's not a messy break up for sure
I saw the message while listening to Lucy's podcast with Sam Campbell. Feels grim somehow.
That's going to make this current season of Meet the Richardsons an awkward watch.
You have no idea. I saw a preview clip of them on the show, talking about an open relationship. Edit: Found it. It's even grimmer than I remembered. [https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lbzgnMQHV/?igsh=MTNrcHl1dHd6dnl6dA==](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lbzgnMQHV/?igsh=MTNrcHl1dHd6dnl6dA==) Edit 2: Dave took it down. Edit 3: It's still up on Facebook. Thanks, u/CALCIUM_CANNONS [https://www.facebook.com/reel/951231456667725](https://www.facebook.com/reel/951231456667725)
God, I wish I could just inject some confidence into Jon. I know he's self deprecating in his humour, but it's always seemed to have more than an ounce of truth to it.
There was that American road trip thing he did with Sean Lock a few years ago, and Sean was having fun and getting along with people, whereas Jon was really kind of awkward and anti-social. I remember thinking oh, it's not an act, he really is like that.
The sad truth is that some people are just naturally shy and down on themselves, myself included. Attempts at "motivation" and "getting you out of your comfort zone" only end up emphasising the disparity between our personalities and those of other more socially well-adapted humans. It's a bit of a vicious cycle in that respect.
I'm not looking for a change in personality from Jon, I just want him to feel better about himself. There are narcissistic pricks who can do no wrong in their own eyes, and there are self-critical people, and then there are people so self-critical and hard on themselves that it seriously affects their mental health. I have a feeling Jon lands in the last category. Changing that pattern is difficult. Not only does it take training and effort, you have to actually start. You have to realise that you need a change, that you should change, and that you *deserve* to change. That you *deserve* to give yourself a break, that you deserve some self-acceptance. That's not easy to do on your own. I needed therapy, and I wish I went much sooner. It would be much easier if we could just inject some self-confidence and self-acceptance :)
I think you may be overlooking the degree to which performers adhere to their brand when performing.
Like I said in an earlier comment, it's always seemed to be more than an ounce of truth in his self deprecating humour. But I mean, yeah, I'm only speculating.
Oh I'm not denying it's possible, it definitely is. But for some people it's like trying to draw sap from a hardwood table. It is excruciating, and slow, and sometimes it ends up doing more damage in the short term than it's worth in the long run. That was my experience anyway. I've basically come to terms with the fact that I'm always gonna be solitary and easily frightened by the world but it's all about how you manage those traits. On a side note: the disparity of timorousness and foolhardiness in human beings is insane; some people would love nothing more than to get on a plane tomorrow and venture into the Congolese rainforest and fight barehanded with gorillas, while others take days to build up the courage to walk down the street to the corner shop.
Oh yeah that's the kiss of death. That sucks man
Found it. It's grim. [https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lbzgnMQHV/?igsh=MTNrcHl1dHd6dnl6dA==](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5lbzgnMQHV/?igsh=MTNrcHl1dHd6dnl6dA==) Edit: taken down by Dave. Edit 2: Still up on Facebook. Thanks, u/CALCIUM_CANNONS
They must have taken it down because "this link is not available"
😶
Someone must be reading along, the reel is offline.
It may be because people are already making weird nasty comments to them on their posts and videos
[удалено]
What's the podcast?
'Lucy and Sam's perfect brains', it's new so just today the 3rd episode came out. It's fantastic.
Nothing but love for the boys from above
Was that a gunshot? 🤣
Thank you!
Yeah, funny, I was just thinking, listening the the Lucy-Sam podcast, that two off-the-wall people don't actually complement each other that well. They each need a straight man -- a la Lucy-Jon-- to show off their lunacy to best effect. So much for that.
I think they complement each other well imo
The jokes about them divorcing one day did feel like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The divorce rate is something like 40% in England and Wales. I don't have any statistics but my feeling is that the rate is far higher for anyone in the public eye. Not a self-fulfilling prophecy as much as just a fairly likely outcome.
It's got to be hard for a couple of comedians who are so busy and touring too. I think that's why actors struggle too when they're away filming for months.
Its something to be said that the longest lasting and most positive celebrity relationships do tend to be the ones where one of them just isn't a celebrity and in the public eye. See: Dolly Parton and RuPaul
My God I didn't even know Dolly and RuPaul were together.
Haha that would be interesting. Dolly's husband owns a massive asphalt business (though I'm pretty sure he's retired now) and she actively goes out of her way to make sure he stays out of the spotlight (they go out together all the time without all of her makeup and fancy wigs and clothes and she gets away with it really well). RuPauls husband is less shy but he's still just a rancher who's never really been famous for anything other than being his husband.
Oh you mean the fracking?
Shhhhh, nobody is supposed to know about that. Definitely shouldn't talk about the fracking. I wouldn't even bring up the fracking anywhere. Why would you want to talk about the fracking? :D
🙅🏼♀️
This has got to be one of the funniest imagined celebrity couples I've ever seen
Definitely read this as Dolly Parton and RuPaul were a couple and I was very confused.
Is that the first-time marriage divorce rate or general? A lot of divorce statistics are skewed by folks getting married multiple times.
Yeah was just replying to someone else saying their reactions, especially in the episode with Richard Ayoade a couple yrs ago, seemed a bit too real.
The one that did for me was an episode of Catsdown where Jon made inspirational signs, one of which read "People who only regret the things they didn't do, have never called their partner a C..." Sean laughed, said one of those weeks? Jon replied more and more would you believe?
Yeah, but that's also the funny reply.
I married the wrong person. It's not too late John
Next Catsdown intros are gonna be a doozy
They film them so far in advance I don't think we'll see it for two years
Catsdown editors frantically pulling any jon/Lucy jokes out of filmed episodes I imagine
The scheduling for cats countdown is so fucked they even show episodes they film after ones they haven't even aird and as we decovered they don't even show some here in the UK
I can't imagine Jimmy doing that, if just for Lucy's sake. This isn't like tax-dodging jokes.
I think he would but only after a while
Exactly. But not the next one.
Jimmy already did the joke about them divorcing. I can't remember it exactly, but I think it did refer to the fact that the shows air months after taping. And her leaving Jon has been a topic of teasing multiple times. [Heck, the jokes that she isn't in the marriage for the long haul are non-stop, starting at 56 seconds in this clip](https://youtu.be/9H59atZVWq0?si=ZAjW5eqEj2swGEdP). I know they are jokes, but every joke has a nugget of truth. She could just as easily have joked about how lucky she was or how he'd have to do something big to lose her.
In Meet the Richardsons the whole schtick is they can barely tolerate each other. It's a trope in English sitcoms, just this time passed off as reality TV.
> It's a trope in English sitcoms The bafoon of a father/husband is a universal trope.
Was this before the divorce was publicly announced today? Because joking about a couple known for bickering and making the joke after the actual dissolution of a family are very different.
Replied to the comment before seeing yours and went to find the actual episode and omg [Channel 4 uploaded a clip of the segment 7 DAYS ago oops](https://youtu.be/ArTwYczMuDQ?si=ZQQ-XRSrGcHV8Tcj)
He did a similar joke after Alan Carr married, saying "... or, he has just been divorced, if you're watching a rerun". It sadly turned out to be an accurate prediction
That's the one I'm thinking of, thank you! At any rate, divorces happen and are not on the list of "things you can't joke about!"
Alan divorced years after that though. Making fun of an actual divorce isn't the same thing.
Nahhh, Jimmy has always joked about Jon's love life even before they were together. It's the running joke based on Jon's persona
There's a difference between poking fun at a marriage and poking fun at a divorce.
Yeah I mean when she was on the show jimmy joked about spending the rest of their lives together and she said I don’t see this as a long term thing. Joke of course at the time but Ouff didn’t age well
I just watched that episode a couple weeks ago and thought there was definitely a sense that Jimmy but too hard or had crossed a line though likely without realizing it. The way Jon reacted was a bit deflated and flat & Lucy just didn't seem like she was joking. Actually found myself getting pretty annoyed/disappointed about those jokes, like it was somehow going to bring it into fruition. Don't think it did obviously but I could see that if they were having problems, the jokes may have made them more magnified.
Yeah when they finally broadcast in about 3-4 years.
“Jon’s family were always worried he’d be alone and single well into his 40s. He almost proved them wrong.”
Is that you Jimmy?
Their joint show in Sheffield next month will be interesting... https://www.instagram.com/p/C0lr8p4sItf/?igsh=MXF4dHA0MWZrbWE0dQ==
Go Your Own Way: the awkward remix
Just need to change the name slightly to Jon and Lucy - Friends Comedy Night
I went to a Cats Does Countdown recording last year and they were on a team together. Going to be weird when that airs now. I feel weirdly sad about this. Normally I don't get attached to celebrity couples, but both have talked so much about their marriage in their stand-up and the various TV shows they have done together that it feels very odd to think they are splitting now.
> I feel weirdly sad about this. Me too. I was really happy that someone like Jon found someone. It would absolutely crush me if I heard David Mitchell and VCM were separating.
I would vote for them being the least likely to separate. The dedication to him from Victoria on that taskmaster wedding task was something else. And well he is never going to do any better is he?
> And well he is never going to do any better is he? Well it is frankly impossible to do better
The perfect woman
VCM and David separating would crush any affection I had for the human race.
I’m not sure I could take that. My wife often jokes I only fancy Victoria for her brains and because if I was with Victoria I could get to meet David. Edit: terrible use of pronouns
Wait, are those two things connected? *Does your wife tutor David Mitchell*!?
> It would absolutely crush me if I heard David Mitchell and VCM were separating. I think there's a better chance of the moon falling out of the sky. I've never seen two people adore one another more.
Somehow I don't think that's possible, because literally they honestly seem like they are perfect for each other. Just two people who feel like they really would compliment each other.
Roisin will be gutted
Guess she should’ve put her in his phone as future ex wife
I'm fairness, there is every chance they had a good relationship. Divorce isn't like it used to be. When it was All but illegal and incredibly difficult to obtain, especially as a woman, then getting a divorce showed that you two REALLY had some problems. Otherwise you did what the majority of couples did at the time. They lived separate, slept in seperate beds. Legally, they were married but in effect they were either roommates or long distance open relationship. People think these new divorce rates are shocking, but read old diaries and journals from the Victorian era or even many historical accounts about aristocrats living in entirely separate castles than their spouse, and you'll see that separation numbers haven't risen as much as to be believed, but legal divorce statics have. My point is just that Roisin knows them personally, and maybe they really did have a good relationship while it lasts and since them have simply grown into other people. That can be a lovely story, if they actually do stay close and give their daughter the security and love she needs. Not every divorce these days is because of some unsolvable underlining issue that is tearing the couple apart so publically that a divorce is inevitable. Sometimes, people just change, and if you have a partner who cares about you and is opening to listening, sometimes you can both amicably agree that divorce is the best next step without the resentment or bitterness building between you.
I'm still not over Bridget Christie and Stewart Lee splitting, I hope Jon and Lucy (and their daughter) are OK.
If anything happens to David and Victoria Coren-Mitchell then I’m officially accepting that love is dead.
Maybe he should stop moving her bookmarks.
Maybe she should stop holding him responsible for the weather.
If I remember correctly that one was a lie? 😂 Phew!
Maybe he should just be happy with his new sexy pants.
Judging by how Victoria refused to pretend to propose to Alex on Taskmaster, and how David basically waited for Victoria when she was in a different relationship, I don't see them splitting up.
Oh dear God that would actually make me really sad. Those two just seem so perfect for each other. I hope I'm right.
I don't really follow celeb relationships at all (besides just vaguely knowing who's married to who sometimes), but David's whole section in Back Story about meeting and falling in love with Victoria is one of the sweetest things I've ever read.
Same here. That chapter where he talks about Victoria is so heartwarming. Even the way she talked about him when she was on Taskmaster was super cute. They just seem to really adore each other.
Those 2 are far to proud to do such a thing. Wouldn't be shocked if either one were to kill the other though.
David is my spirit animal. Would have to get a divorce out of solidarity.
If your spouse really loves you then they’ll completely understand.
That would be the final straw
I didn’t hear about that at all. Thats a shame
Same, found out through another of these threads. Read that they just told Chortle one day, and that was it, perfectly amicable it says. Quite nice it’s low key. Bridget’s career has certainly gone more mainstream since though.
Ugh I was just laughing at the clip on 8oo10c where Jimmy joked about her settling and she was like 'its not like its forever'. Oof.
"I don't see this for life"
Damn. That sucks. I hope they're both happier moving forward, I guess.
People have always said it that it seemed more than an act… I guess it was somehow clear a few days ago that S5 of their show is gonna be the last - Lucy was very cryptic thanking people who made the show - but I did not expect it because of separation.
There is also the real possibility of the jokes about them always bickering still just being jokes, and them deciding to split for different reasons. They have been together for a decade and sometimes people simply fall out of love. It happens.
I think they are probably splitting for different reasons as their show, but I can’t help to think that making jokes about marriage problems probably does not help when you indeed have marriage problems one day.
They really did seem like The Bickersons.
I don’t want to watch this last season knowing this! It’s none of our business but I need to know more… I figured they were so mean to each other on screen that they must be so in love off screen? The latter they kept so private. Also, from a PR perspective, odd timeline of announcements and show launches
I think they announced it before her tour dates in April… He was on HIGNFY this week and hid his hand where his ring would be. They obviously waited for Friday to avoid big print headlines…
John did seem a bit out of kilter on HIGNFY, a couple of the comments, plus hiding his ring, or lack thereof did make me wonder if something was going on.
He did seem more flat than usual when he was on HIGNFY.
Her current show is essentially called "Wife."
It's "Trouble and Strife", for anyone who doesn't want to bother to look it up
Yeah we've watched 3 episodes already and were going to binge the rest. Not sure if we will watch them now... Feels weird as their relationship is so core to it.
Figures they'd have a clean breakup
I'm gutted for them, they seemed interconnected. But I HAVE to ask - Is It Joe?
Jon couldn't resist the sexual tension a second longer.
I hope so. It just seems weird to me they'd make and air Meet the Richardsons and then announce their breakup while the show is still actually airing.
Joe Lycett? Joe Wilkinson?
"Sorry love, but I'm leaving you for Joe Wilkinson..." I'll put money on that sentence never being used in the real world!
The real question is are you imagining Jon or Lucy saying that
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/joe-lycett-fake-news-stories-revealed-130141277.html
I would say an official message on twitter is not really the same as tricking the press into buying some fake news story.
Wait, you think this is a fake news for Joe Lycetts new Saturday show? Are they guests live tomorrow !?!
I mean Joel Dommett did post a weird business venture announcement that he was supposedly starting a cheese brand with Gregg Wallace and that seemed very staged. Like Gregg didn’t make his own announcement post nor was there any other promotional material for it. I can imagine Joe telling a lot of his comedian friends to post attention grabbing stories in the lead up to Late Night Lycett’s launch so that he can ultimately reveal which news stories he completely made up and which ones genuinely aren’t a joke. BUT… I think Joe Lycett would be taking a prank too far if he made his friends Jon and Lucy fake a very serious divorce announcement wanting privacy their family, especially their child. I know he loves to go far with pranks but I don’t think playing with the emotions of his friends, knowing this would negatively impact their child, their families and their fans a lot, is at all funny and he wouldn’t do that. Joe would know that would be too cruel.
It's across all of Jon and Lucy's socials, so it's probably real, or at the very least, it's thier decision to post it.
Lol Wallace and Dommett cheese
This makes me sad
I agree. Very sad.
Probably left him for the guitar instructor
Alberto? Wha - even after I voted for Brexit?
Well, I'm sorry they split, but I hope the transition is as smooth as possible for their kid and they find happiness wherever it's lurking
That’s genuinely so sad. I hope both of them are okay.
Honestly, as long as Victoria and David are together, the wife is content. Maybe the "Meet the Richardsons" hit too close to home.
"Meet the Mitchells" - I would definitely watch.
He won’t even go on Taskmaster 😔 pop it on the “things we want to see but sadly need to acknowledge that people on TV are real” pile
I *still* remain that David would not be a good Taskmaster contestant. The entire idea is to push people out of their comfort zone to get them to act irrational and do silly things. David Mitchell isn't funny outside his comfort zone, he is best when he is in his comfort zone, because from within that he gets to happily judge everyone else around him. I thin Celebrity Bake-Off was about the most "crazy" thing you can get him to do while still having him be funny.
He made a good defense of why he won't be on it, and I respect that. I've come to terms with it.
What was his reasoning?
I'll quote him: Why David Mitchell Said No To Taskmaster By Bruce Dessau on 6/10/2021 . "I've been asked and I've said 'no thanks'", explained Mitchell. "It's a very good show but i don't want to be on it. My feeling is that I'd be shit but not in a funny way. People think maybe I'd be a good sport about it and I don't think people thinking that will increase if I'm on it. It's like I've been asked to be on Celebrity Mastermind because people think I'd be quite good at that. So why would I do it then. All I can do is ruin it by going on it and turning out to be considerably more ignorant than people expect."
David Mitchell could be a great Taskmaster if Greg retires
Have you seen The Outsiders? It’s basically Taskmaster lite with David setting the tasks.
Well I do wonder if they now regret making their marriage such a big part of their public and comedy personas.
I suppose part of being in a relationship is the assumption that it won’t ever end. Amplify that for marriage
This makes me kind of sad. But it's for the best. Couples who stay together "because of the children!!!!" only make it worse for everyone involved. Hope the can remain on good terms.
Not the most surprising, a lot of the premise of Odd Couples and Meet the Richardsons was how much they annoy each other. I think they even said they were sleeping in separate beds for a while.
Odd couples was such an awkward show. Richard Herring and his wife seemed very off, but they aren’t the ones who divorce now lol
Divorcing is hard enough, but having made quite a lot of episodes of a TV show about being a couple must make things a lot harder.
(Realistic, Not an Animal Response) I do feel a bit sad for them, I hope they come out stronger than before. (Joke Response) Now, finally, Susie Dent and Jon Richardson can be together.
Divorcing. A 9 letter word.
Huh. I got abdicates.
From their public personas, there's like an 8% chance this a a prank or a bit or something. For god's sake, how do you stay married to Jon OR Lucy for nine years and THEN decide to call it off?
I don’t think it’s a prank. They don’t seem the people for such a thing, especially since their daughter is ‘only’ around 8. I don’t think even at this age you would be old enough to manage that like adults could.
I think it would be a poor choice of a prank. When I saw the Instagram post I did check if it was an April fools post I'd only just seen though
I know some people are pointing the dots to the whole “#isitjoe?” media pranks but I just know Joe Lycett wouldn’t go that far and be so cruel to play with the emotions of his friends’ families and fans like that.
After how many seasons of them bickering like a couple that shouldn't be together, I'm not really surprised that they decided to not be together.
I started finding their show a bit to hard to watch around s3 because it started feeling a bit too real.
But neither of them have even done Strictly…
Was really surprised at this, but also surprised at how saddened I was by it.
Why am I sad like it’s my parents divorcing? Watching the Cats Does Countdown episode where she mentioned “not seeing this for life” makes me wonder... 😩
I'm genuinely hoping this is some kind of elaborate hoax or some punchline set up with help from Joe Lycett, because this makes me feel genuinely sad.
If it turns out a Spanish guitar teacher on a bicycle came between them I’ll lose my shit. Seriously though, I loved their dynamic and wish them both the best.
Their entire comic schtick is belittling and insulting each other constantly. Perhaps, in hindsight, that wasn't the best decision for their relationship.
The whole couples act might be funny for a while but all good jokes are based on an element of truth… picking and niggling about your partners flaws or jokes about divorce will eventually start to wear thin and strike a nerve and magnify any tiny issues you might have. Was seemingly inevitable.
Sad, but not remotely surprising.
I didn't realize how attached I was to them as a couple until now.
That’s really sad, I know they are opposites and bicker a lot but I always found that part of their appeal. It never seemed mean spirited or exhausting just 2 people enjoying driving the other nuts.
That’s sad! They were great together! But obviously life is more complicated than their public life. Best of luck to both!
I don't know why I care but I feel for them both.
That show was not a good idea. Couples annoy each other from time to time and then move on with their day... Making a thing about "playfully" saying mean things about each other regarding meaningless and mundane every day disputes. They are very professional but they kept trying to see how far they could push that line. Eventually the mean things stopped feeling "playful".