Janet Street-Porter, the outspoken television personality, recently surprised many by announcing her fifth marriage to longtime partner Peter Spanton. The 79-year-old broadcaster, known for her directness, playfully declared she’d “saved the best till last” after a quiet ceremony in Great Yarmouth.
The wedding, attended by only four guests and their beloved dog Badger, marked the culmination of a 27-year romance largely shielded from the public eye. Her co-stars on *Loose Women* were genuinely astonished by the news, showering the couple with heartfelt congratulations.
But this union isn’t a new beginning in isolation; it’s the latest chapter in a life marked by a complex and often unconventional approach to love. Street-Porter has openly reflected on her past relationships, revealing a pattern of seeking connection, and sometimes, a little bit of chaos.
Peter Spanton, a former restaurateur and entrepreneur, is a man who seemingly thrives outside the spotlight. He once owned a popular Clerkenwell restaurant and now focuses on his premium mixer drink company, a venture built on offering “something beyond the ordinary.” Their relationship has been characterized by a deliberate privacy, a quiet understanding built over decades.
The decision to finally marry wasn’t taken lightly. Street-Porter confessed to feeling incredibly nervous the day before the ceremony, even shaking with anticipation. She and Spanton had discussed it for years, grappling with the perceived embarrassment of making such a public declaration after so long together.
Before Peter, there was David Sorkin, a relationship Street-Porter now readily admits was a “big mistake.” The age gap – she was 50, he was 27 – and the whirlwind Las Vegas wedding were indicative of a mid-life crisis, a desperate attempt to escape a feeling of being alone. The marriage famously ended when he playfully, yet decisively, squirted her with salad cream during an argument.
Her marriage to Canadian filmmaker Frank Cvitanovich, two decades prior, was deeply affected by tragedy. His son’s terminal illness cast a long shadow, and the grief that followed ultimately fractured their bond. Street-Porter found herself nursing him through severe depression, a role that ultimately proved unsustainable.
A brief, whirlwind romance with Tony Elliott, the founding editor of *Time Out*, followed, born from an affair that ended her first marriage. She impulsively moved in with him, a decision she later regretted, recognizing the importance of establishing independence before committing to a new relationship.
Her longest marriage was to Tim Street-Porter, a photographer she met while studying architecture. They were together for nearly seven years, a period she remembers fondly, despite admitting to multiple affairs. The marriage ended abruptly when she was discovered with another man, a moment she describes as a “stupid way to end” a relationship she still cherished.
Through it all, a recurring theme emerges: a fear of solitude. Street-Porter has confessed to needing connection, to struggling with being alone, even within the comfort of her own home. Her journey through love and marriage is a testament to the complexities of human relationships, a candid exploration of desire, regret, and the enduring search for companionship.
