Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi are, to all intents and purposes, divorced today, after London courts issues the former couple a decree nisi this morning.
Neither Lawson or Saatchi were present this morning in the London High Court in a hearing that lasted less than a minute, as the District Judge granted the couple a decree nisi, an effectual divorce that is the first formal step in divorce proceedings. A decree nisi is issued to confirm that there is no reason why a couple cannot divorce and if there are no further issues or complications from either party, a decree absolute will be issued in six weeks and a day, officially ending their marriage.
A statement issued on behalf of both Lawson and Saatchi confirmed that the divorce will be 'swift and amicable' and that neither party is seeking to make a financial claim against the other, which means Nigella gets to keep her TV food empire all to herself and Charles gets to hang onto his multimillion pound art collection. 'A divorce will proceed on the undefended basis, the decree nisi is to be pronounced on July 31, and neither party will be making any financial claims against the other. Contrary to some reports, Charles Saatchi has not consulted lawyers and has represented himself throughout.' the statement read.
The couple's ten-year marriage came to an end after pictures of Saatchi with his hands around Lawson's throat at a London restaurant appeared in the press, which he described as a 'playful tiff' before accepting a police caution for assault over the incident. Saatchi also proclaimed his 'disappointment' at Nigella's silence since the incident, as Lawson declined to make any comment to the press as she moved out of their family home with her son.
