Nadia Sawalha, well-known for her candid presence on ITV’s Loose Women, has once again opened up about her turbulent but enduring marriage to film producer Mark Adderley. In a series of heartfelt revelations shared across their popular podcast, Coffee Moaning, and social media channels, Sawalha, 61, admitted that she and Adderley, 56, have come close to divorce more times than they can count during their 23-year union. Their story, marked by honesty and resilience, has resonated with thousands of fans—many of whom see their struggles mirrored in their own lives.
In a clip posted to Instagram on January 5, 2026, Sawalha didn’t mince words: “We’ve been close to divorce many, many, many times. We’ve been to marriage guidance counsellors, we’ve worked our as really to stay together.” According to the Daily Mail, this admission was just the latest in a long line of frank discussions the couple have had about their relationship’s highs and lows.
The couple, who married in 2002, share two daughters, Maddie and Kiki-Bee. Depending on the source, Maddie is listed as either 21 or 23, and Kiki-Bee as 16 or 18—likely reflecting publication dates and reporting discrepancies. Mark also has two daughters from a previous relationship, further adding to the family’s dynamic. Together, Nadia and Mark run a thriving YouTube channel boasting over 150,000 subscribers, where they share daily vlogs and podcast episodes, inviting their audience into the intimate corners of their lives.
Their willingness to publicly discuss marital difficulties is rare among celebrities, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. As The Mirror reported, fans have flocked to the comments sections of their posts to praise the couple’s honesty. One supporter wrote, “Love how you are honest about the graft that goes into being and staying married and sane, or not sane… lol.” Another added, “That’s what helps others to open up and I think also shows how you can go through tough times with a partner but weather the storm.”
For Sawalha and Adderley, the road hasn’t been easy. In their podcast, Nadia explained, “Each time we went to a couple’s counsellor, we’ve felt our communication was completely out and completely gone. But there was still a willingness to try and make it work. And it did help, even the bad marriage counsellors did help.” This willingness, she says, is what ultimately kept them together during the darkest periods.
Yet, there were moments when even that resolve was tested. “I think there is a point where a relationship is just dead. But I would say that I have felt that in this marriage at times, and Mark has, vice versa. We’ve just thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore, I literally can’t do this anymore.’ And I’ve said this before, we’ve both said this before, if we hadn’t of had Maddie, we wouldn’t have stayed together. We would have both stormed off and walked away and gone and made the same mistake again.” The Sun echoed this sentiment, highlighting how the couple’s daughters played a pivotal role in their decision to persevere.
Notably, the couple’s openness isn’t limited to marital strife. Nadia has previously spoken about Mark’s mental health and past addiction struggles, both on Loose Women and in their podcast. In a particularly emotional episode, she said, “Mark does have mental health issues and I support him through that from a position of ‘I’m so lucky that I don’t go through that’. When he’s low, it can be very hard but it’s not as hard as what he’s going through. I help him see pinholes of light when it’s very dark.” According to The Mirror, Nadia had to pause to collect herself, her empathy evident as she fought back tears. She described herself as a “rescuer,” revealing that she didn’t initially realize Mark had addiction problems, but that once she did, there was “no choice because I was already there with who he was.”
Their story isn’t just about struggle, though. As Nadia wrote in an Instagram post, their marriage is a “beautiful disaster… Crazy, thrilling, terrifying, joyful, rageful fun filled joyful, horrid, exhausting, boring, healing, beautiful, fascinating, baffling, repetitive, gruesome, gorgeous, sexy, romantic, supportive comfy, cosy, scary, supportive, connected, faithful, fearful, awesome, affectionate, loyal.” That raw, unfiltered description captures the essence of a relationship that is both ordinary and extraordinary—a sentiment that seems to strike a chord with their audience.
The past few months have brought additional challenges for the family. On January 5, 2026, Nadia announced on social media that they had to cancel an episode of Coffee Moaning and all live streams on their YouTube channel due to a family illness. Mark’s mother, Diane—affectionately known to fans as “Nanny Di”—was reported to be “quite poorly in hospital.” Nadia’s message read, “We are very sorry but we have to cancel Coffee Moaning and all LIVE shows on The Sawalha Adderley’s YouTube channel shows due to family illness. We will let you know more asap. Love Nadia and Mark.” This transparency about personal setbacks has only deepened the connection between the couple and their supporters.
Despite—or perhaps because of—their openness about life’s messiness, the couple have built a loyal following. Fans routinely comment on how Nadia and Mark’s willingness to “share their shizz” helps others feel less alone in their own struggles. One user wrote, “I just cried. This is exactly what I need to hear right now and will listen in. My hubby and I have had a rocky start to 2026.” Another chimed in, “I know this will help lots of couples, it’s blooming hard living with another human, thank you for sharing.”
It’s clear that the Sawalha-Adderley marriage is no fairy tale—at least not in the sanitized, picture-perfect sense. Instead, it’s a story of two people who have weathered storm after storm, sometimes just barely, and who have chosen to keep fighting for their relationship, even when walking away seemed easier. Whether it’s through marriage counselling, honest conversations, or simply the day-to-day act of showing up for each other, Nadia and Mark exemplify the reality that love, in all its forms, is both hard work and a leap of faith.
As their fans await updates on “Nanny Di” and the return of their podcast, one thing is certain: Nadia and Mark’s willingness to “work their as off” to stay together continues to inspire—and reassure—those navigating their own imperfect, beautiful disasters.
