The wife of ice skating star Christopher Dean has claimed that his mentoring role on Dancing On Ice, was responsible for the breakdown of their marriage.

Jill Trenary-Dean has admitted that it was she who filed for divorce a year ago, after his obsession with the ITV ice skating show kept him away from their Colorado home for six months of the year.

Speaking to The News Of The World Jill said:

“Dancing On Ice was really an amazing project for Chris – and I was very supportive,” said Jill, the 1990 world figure skating champion.

“It started as a few months away, but we ended up apart six months of the year – and that just isn’t do-able. I love Colorado and this is where we decided to raise our kids. But it was one of those things that his career took off. At the moment he’s being pulled in two different directions. He’s a great dad, but it’s difficult to be a full time dad when you’re not here.

“The success of the show, with long, long separations over almost five years now, isn’t conducive to a happy marriage. It was the breaking point.”

“We’ve been separated for 18 months – I filed for divorce as I wanted to get things moving because he was in the UK all the time. Hopefully we can move things forward as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

“We are still fond of each other enough for us to work this out with as little time with solicitors to prevent ugliness.

“Financially I assume he will look after us as he is a good man who is working.

“There are lots of people who go through bitter divorces – Chris and I won’t.”

On the rumours that her former husband has been romancing married coach Karen Barber, Jill admitted that she knows nothing for sure but mentioned that her teenage son had seemed very taken with her after visiting Chris in the UK recently.

“I wasn’t aware he had a relationship with Mrs Barber – it’s hurtful,” she said.

“The boys just had a lovely visit in the UK and loved seeing what daddy does, hanging out in the studio.

“They met Karen and liked her. I haven’t brought up Karen’s name once in front of them ever since the story broke. Sam felt particularly fond of her – that was a bit strange.
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“He is a sensitive little boy and talked about how he liked Karen and her amazing sense of humour. At the time I thought nothing of it.”

“I don’t have bad feeling towards Chris – it’s just an unfortunate situation.”