Billi Mucklow and Andy Carroll's reason for shock split revealed after tricky two years

Footballer Andy Carroll has announced that he is divorcing his Towie star wife Billi Mucklow after two years of marriage. Their turbulent time together secretly came to an end in July when the couple split and they are now bringing their marriage to an end.

Their relationship had suffered controversy during their 11 years together and they almost didn't walk down the aisle after Andy's antics on his stag do in Dubai, before it was revealed that he was innocent of the accusations that were plastered on social media.

So what went wrong for Billi and Andy? Here is a look at some points that could have hastened their split.

That Stag Do

The couple were engaged in 2014 and tied the knot at a ceremony in June 2022, at the five-star Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire. They have been together for 11 years but they almost didn't make it down the aisle after Andy was pictured with two women in his bed as he lay passed out while on his stag do in Dubai.

After photos were posted on social media of Andy and the women, Billi removed her £200,000 engagement ring and moved out of their Essex home. The reality star only forgave her footballer fiance after Taylor Jane Wilkey, who was one of the women in the bed, insisted that nothing had happened and that Andy had acted very gentlemanly towards them.

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 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," Taylor added.

Andy in La Belle France

The former Newcastle United star recently joined Bordeaux in France, who play in the fourth division of the French league after a desperate fall from the top and being declared bankrupt during the summer. Andy had been playing in Ligue 1 with Amiens, where he had been enjoying a French life of anonymity with people not knowing who he is, after many years in the spotlight of the Premier League.

The former England striker has taken to life on the continent and has admitted that it is costing him to play in Bordeaux and he is doing this while Billi stayed in Essex at their family home. When at Newcastle United, Andy was reportedly earning £23,000-a-week and had £10 million in the bank. Now he is earning £750-a-week in France and he has admitted that this is costing him.

Andy told RMC Sport: "To be honest, it’s even costing me money to come and play for Bordeaux but I’m playing football and I am simply happy to be playing football. I want to be a part of this club’s history and to be frank, it wasn’t a question of money. In my career, it’s never been a question of money."

The statement

While Andy enjoys life on the continent, with Billi staying in Essex, 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 added to 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.

The pair have three children aged nine, six, and four. Andy also has two children, aged 15, and 14, from a previous relationship.

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