Billi Mucklow 'blindsided' by husband Andy Carroll's shock new romance with make-up artist

Shortly after TOWIE star Billi Mucklow, 36, and Andy Carroll, 35, announced they have separated, the former Newcastle United footballer was pictured with a new woman

Billi Mucklow said she has been "blindsided" by Andy Carroll's new romance with a celebrity make-up artist just months after they separated.

The 36-year-old TOWIE star and the 35-year-old former Newcastle United footballer got married in June 2022, but they separated in July and last week confirmed they are heading for divorce. But shortly after news of the break-up came out, Andy, who now plays for French football club FC Girondins de Bordeaux, was spotted with a new woman, 40-year-old Lou Teasdale.

It has been reported that the pair have been growing closer recently and were seen together at London's Spitalfields Market enjoying a drink on Thursday. Friends of Billi said she is still grieving their split and is devastated that her ex moved on so quickly after 11 years together.

A source told Mail Online: "Billi was upset the marriage ended, but accepts it had run its course. They had plenty of ups and downs but she doesn't regret a thing, because it's given her three children and two more from Andy's previous relationship, who she's grown incredibly close to and still live with her full-time.

"Andy is currently based in France, but comes back to see them as much as possible. Billi will continue bring up Emilie Rose and Lucas." On Andy's new romance, the source added: "It was a shock for Billi, given they only split months previously. It left her blindsided initially but he's single now, so he can do what he wants.

"But what she doesn't want to do is cause any fallouts between herself and Andy for the sake of the kids. They intend to co-parent them and continue to provide a loving family unit."

Andy has been enjoying life in France even though he has dropped from £23,000-a-week when playing in the Premier League to now earning £750-a-week in the fourth tier of French football, with Andy admitting that it is costing him to play in Bordeaux. Meanwhile, Billi had stayed at home in Essex and this weekend the footballer issued a statement detailing their split. He said: "Billi and I have privately separated earlier this year and we are under way with our divorce proceedings. It has been a hard few months for our family and we continue to move forward amicably for our children."

A source told The Sun: "Andy and Billi care about each other a lot and have made some great memories together, but decided it was best for the family if they went their separate ways having grown apart. They’re still focusing on the kids and being the best parents they can be and being respectful of each other." The insider added that the former couple want their divorce to be "straightforward" for everyone involved and shared how dad-of-five Andy is throwing himself into his football career following the split.

Andy's marriage to the mum of his three kids, Billi, almost didn't happen two years ago after the footballer's antics on his stag do in Dubai. The couple had been together for nine years, but after Andy was papped with two women in his bed as he lay passed out in the UAE, Billi removed her £200,000 engagement ring and moved out of their Essex home.

The reality star only forgave her then fiancé after Taylor Jane Wilkey, who was one of the women in the bed, insisted that nothing had happened, adding that footballer was a complete "gentleman". The bar manager apologised for the photos and insisted the two never had sex.

"I'm sorry, Billi, I know how it looks, but we didn't have sex," the then 27-year-old told The Sun. "She needs to know nothing sexual happened between me and Andy, I swear. He was a gentleman, he just had so much to drink and passed out on the bed. He didn't try anything - and even if he had wanted to, he was too drunk."

The Mirror has contacted representatives for Billi Mucklow and Andy Carroll for comment on this story.

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