The couple who won £148million in the lottery a year ago say they are 'happy now' after it was revealed they are on the verge of divorce and living in separate mansions.
Adrian Bayford, 43, and his wife Gillian, 41, said they hoped the EuroMillions win would bring their family together but instead they have separated and will split their fortune after their relationship broke down 'irretrievably'.
Mr Bayford has admitted they had not been getting on for some time but denied an affair was behind their break-up, and said they are 'getting along fine'.
Mrs Bayford is living in the £6million Georgian home they swapped for their modest three-bedroom house, and Mr Bayford is in a £500,000 property ten minutes down the road in Suffolk.
Look, me and Gillian are getting along fine, ' he said.
'There have been rumours for months and none of it has been true, its all rubbish. We have separated now but we get on fine.
We have kids and we still get along and talk to each other. We're all happy now and life goes on.'
A spokesman for Mrs Bayford said today: 'Gillian confirms that her marriage to Adrian has broken down irretrievably and they have separated.
Facing the world: Lottery winner Adrian Bayford at his home in Suffolk today, after it emerged her recently split from his wife Gillian
Facing the world: Lottery winner Adrian Bayford at his home in Suffolk today, after it emerged her recently split from his wife Gillian
'Gillian will be giving no further comment about this matter either now or in the future'.
Speaking in July, Gillian, who is said to have lost a great deal of weight and was accused of an affair with a gardener, denied rumours that she was cheating on her husband.
She said: 'We are not splitting up. We aren't any different to the way we were before.
'Every woman goes out and does their bits and pieces. But that does not mean I am having an affair.'
The Bayfords were famous, not just for winning the huge sum, but also for the way it changed their humble life together.
Mother-of-two Gillian worked night shifts in the local hospital and Adrian ran a small shop selling musical instruments and second-hand records.
Mrs Bayford said at the time: 'Neither of us can quite comprehend just how much £148million is. We have always worked and saved up for holidays, or things that we need.
'We have lived within our means and been comfortable but we have been like ships in the night to earn the income we needed.
'It will be fantastic to spend more time as a family now. This money has come at the right time for us and is going to benefit the whole family.
'The win is not just for us, it is for us to share and everyone's life is going to be so much more enjoyable and stress-free.'
They remained down to earth, celebrating their win with a Dominos pizza with their daughter, eight, and son, six, before heading off on holiday to a Scottish caravan park.
Mr Bayford even chose to continue running his shop because he enjoyed it so much.
But he then decided to close the independent Suffolk Music Centre in Haverhill because of abuse from visitors and the number of people who turned up begging for cash.
They then swapped their three bedroom house for a Grade II-listed Georgian mansion set in more than 100 acres of woods and farmland.
The seven bedroom house, which has four marbled bathrooms and four reception rooms, also has a three bedroom annexe, a lodge, a three bedroom farmhouse and four cottages.
They also bought expensive cars including a Mercedes, an Audi and a Mini.
But it appears that finding themselves among the richest people in Britain may have taken its toll.
They were suddenly at position 488 in the Rich List, just beneath Ringo Starr and £23m wealthier than Eric Clapton.
Those who knew them today said they 'suspected for some time that all is not well in the marriage'.
A source told The Sun: 'It's such a shame because they are a lovely family with two young kids. And everyone around here was so happy for them when they won.
'They worked hard all of their lives and then came into this wonderful bit of good fortune. That's why it's so sad it's ended like this.
A Camelot spokeswoman said only a small minority of winners regretted their lottery success.
She added: 'We regularly conduct research among National Lottery winners about life after the win.
'In recent research undertaken, only 2 per cent of winners had separated from their partner since winning a major prize with 99 per cent of winners claiming to be as happy or happier than before their win.'
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