Dancing on Ice’s Christopher Dean and Karen Barber never married in 11-year relationship – here’s why
Nicholas Murphy
Dancing on Ice judge Christopher Dean and head coach Karen Barber confirmed their relationship in 2011. Here’s everything we know about why they didn’t get married…
Christopher Dean and Karen Barbier knew each other well before playing ice dancing together, but their relationship didn’t blossom until 2011.
READ: Everything you need to know about Dancing on Ice judge Christopher Dean’s family
The ice skating judge, 63, and the head coach, 60, had both been married before confirming their romance, which left some of their fans wondering why they chose not to walk in down the aisle during their very private 11-year relationship. Here’s everything we know…
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Who is Christopher Dean’s wife?
Christopher has two ex-wives – Isabelle Duchesnay and Jill Trenary. The Olympic skater married French-Canadian ice-dancing world champion Isabelle in Montreal, Canada, in 1991, and she looked stunning in a traditional long-sleeved wedding dress. The couple divorced after two years of marriage.
Christopher and Isabelle on their wedding day in 1991
He then married American skater Jill in October 1994, and his bride was pictured in an off-the-shoulder dress with a full skirt. The couple then welcomed two sons together, Jack Robert and Sam Colin.
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In March 2010, Christopher’s agent confirmed that the couple had decided to go their separate ways. Speaking of DOIs, she told the world news at the time: “The success of the show, with long, long separations for almost five years now, is not conducive to a happy marriage. That was the breaking point.” She added that her relationship with Karen was “hurtful”.
Christopher was married to his second wife Jill from 1994 to 2010
Despite deny romance rumors with Karen in December 2010, Christopher was pictured kissing the star outside a London restaurant in January 2011.
Who is Karen Barber’s husband?
Karen was previously married to skating coach Stephen Pickavance and the couple are parents to two daughters, Emma and Laura.
Shortly after the photographs of Karen and Christopher were released, she confirmed that her 21-year marriage had ended some time before.
However, news of Karen’s new relationship still came as a shock to Stephen, who said world news: “I went through hell. I’m in pieces and I don’t know how I did it.”
MORE: Dancing on Ice relationships: who found love and who broke up
Are Christopher Dean and Karen Barber married?
The couple confirmed their relationship in 2011
Karen and Christopher released a joint statement in 2011, explaining, “We have been great friends for over 30 years. Following recent media speculation, we feel the need to confirm that this year has seen a change in our relationship, but we are taking things very slowly as this is the beginning.
“We would very much like to thank our dear friends, who have been incredibly supportive of us. We both have families with children, so we ask the media to please respect their privacy.”
They haven’t publicly addressed the topic of marriage, so it’s unclear if they would consider saying “yes” in the future. However, it is possible that they do not wish to marry and have found happiness without marriage.
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