‘I wouldn’t be hypocritical enough to criticise actors who stray’: Ulrika Jonsson says she relates to Andrew Buchan’s ‘affair’ with his co-star as she’s had her own on-set flings
Ulrika Jonsson has revealed that she understands why Andrew Buchan may have strayed with his co-star Leila Farzad as she herself has had her own on-set flings.
Broadchurch star Andrew, 44, is said to have walked out on wife Amy Nuttall and their two children, and moved in with co-star Leila, 40, after meeting the glamorous actress while working on the BBC series Better.
And in her recent column for The Sun, Ulrika, 55, shared that she can relate to Andrew falling for a co-star as it’s something she’s done herself, admitting that she ‘wouldn’t be hypocritical enough to criticise actors who stray.’
The presenter, who is said to have had an affair with Gladiators co-star James Crossley aka Hunter behind then husband John Turnbull’s back, told how she gets that the ‘escapism’ from the ‘drudgery of day-to-day life’ can cause people to stray, especially when stuck together for an ‘intense period’ of filming.
Meanwhile, Ulrika also picked up on the ‘sexual tension’ between Andrew and Leila while binge watching Better, adding that the chemistry between the actors was ‘undeniable.’
Sympathise: Ulrika Jonsson has revealed that she understands why Andrew Buchan may have strayed with his co-star Leila Farzad as she herself has had her own on-set flings
It is said that former Emmerdale star Amy, 40, has been left left so ‘crushed’ by the end of her marriage to Andrew Buchan that she has been crying almost every day.
And while Ulrika says she sympathises with the actress’ woes, she noted that it’s not the first time this has happened with a showbiz couple and it won’t be the last – referring to other famous flings including Dominic West and Lily James.
Drawing on her own experience, she said: ‘I wouldn’t be hypocritical enough to criticise actors who stray, because in fairness, many of us meet people at work. It just so happens this type of work is more than a little unusual.’
She went on: ‘While I was filming Gladiators on location for a month 27 years ago, I fell for someone who, awkwardly and inappropriately, wasn’t my then-husband. For me, certainly, it came down to escapism. I’d had a chance to get away from everything – husband and young child.’
The Swedish beauty added that filming the TV show allowed her to ‘abandon’ her ‘domestic responsibilities’ and focus solely on being herself – adding that with everyday life one could often ‘forget’ who they were.
She went on to explain how being away on location transports stars away from the domesticity of every day life, including children and partners, adding that it’s easy to get close to people as they work closely together for an ‘intense period’.
Referring to Andrew’s and Leila’s on-set dalliance, Ulrika noted: ‘In the case of actors, of course, it’s also about becoming someone else, often with the spice of being asked to snog, flirt or have a rumble under the covers with their fellow actor. If that doesn’t light their internal and emotional fire, I don’t know what will.’
The star – who met her second husband on TV show Mr Right – added that ‘it’s a wonder’ that people are able to resist ‘all that temptation’, remarking that falling for a co-star is ‘a very real occupational hazard.’
Affair: Broadchurch star Andrew, 44, is said to have walked out on wife Amy Nuttall and their two children , and moved in with co-star Leila, 40, after meeting the glamorous actress while working on the BBC series Better
Experience: The presenter, who who is said to have had an affair with Gladiators co-star James Crossley (pictured together in 1996) behind then husband John Turnbull’s back, told how she gets that the ‘escapism’ from the ‘drudgery of day-to-day life’ can cause people to stray
Devastated: It is said that former Emmerdale star Amy, 40, has been left left so ‘crushed’ by the end of her marriage to Andrew Buchan that she has been crying almost every day (pictured in 2014)
And while devastated Amy – who was recently spotted without her wedding ring – mourns the breakdown of her marriage, Ulrika shared that although she feels ‘painfully sad’ for her, she finds Andrew and Leila’s connections ‘quite romantic’ if it is indeed a ‘true love story’.
However, despite this, she insisted that she would ‘never’ herself date an actor as she’d no doubt spent all her time ‘stressing and worrying’ and fuelled with paranoia while her beau is off filming with an actress.
It comes as Andrew’s alleged affair with co-star Leila was exposed after estranged wife Amy discovered the former Broadchurch star had purchased racy lingerie in a size that was not her own.
Buchan, 44, is understood to have left actress Nuttall, his wife of 12-years, and moved in with Oxford educated mother-of-one Farzad, 40, after growing close on the set of new BBC series Better.
Candid: Ulrika, 55, shared that she can relate to Andrew falling for a co-star as it’s something she’s done herself, admitting that she ‘wouldn’t be hypocritical enough to criticise actors who stray’
Opinion: She added that ‘it’s a wonder’ that people are able to resist ‘all that temptation’, remarking that falling for a co-star is ‘a very real occupational hazard’
Observation: Meanwhile, Ulrika also picked up on the ‘sexual tension’ between Andrew and Leila while binge watching Better, adding that the chemistry between the actors was ‘undeniable’
Friends claim the actor informed Nuttall, 40, best known for her former roles in Emmerdale and Downtown Abbey, of his desire to terminate the marriage shortly before Christmas.
But the actress, who shares two children with Buchan, suspected her husband had strayed after discovering an intimate pre-Christmas purchase, alongside receipts from unexplained stays at a London hotel – when he was supposed to be working away on location.
A source told The Sun: ‘The penny started to drop over a period of time. He was away a lot, which wasn’t unusual because of the nature of his work, but at one point Amy realised he had been staying in hotels very near to home — and wondered why.
Rumbled: Andrew’s alleged affair with co-star Leila was exposed after estranged wife Amy discovered the former Broadchurch star had purchased racy lingerie in a size that was not her own
Co-stars: Buchan plays well-connected criminal Col alongside Leila’s corrupt police officer, Lou, in the crime drama Better, which was first screened on BBC One in February
READ MORE: ‘I would NEVER try it on with someone else’s boyfriend’: A look back at Amy Nuttall’s rocky romances in her own words
‘As time moved on, there were some tell-tale signs that he had become close to Leila — just something in his mannerisms and in their social media posts together.
‘But the final straw was the lingerie — that’s what clinched it. Amy just knew instinctively that it wasn’t meant for her.’
On Tuesday, Nuttall was pictured for the first time since it emerged her husband has walked out on her and their two children.
The Downton Abbey star, who has been left so ‘crushed’ by the end of her marriage that she has been crying almost every day, struggled to raise a smile as she ran errands in Buckinghamshire.
The mother-of-two wrapped up against the cold in a padded navy jacket and swept her hair back in a chunky clip.
Speaking to MailOnline about the split, Nuttall fought back tears and confessed: ‘I can’t talk about it. I’m sorry, I can’t say anything.’
Sources close to Nuttall say that she has been supported by her close friend Joanne Froggatt, who used to live close to her and Buchan.
One friend said: ‘It has broken Amy, it has been so dreadfully sad to see.
‘She got wind that something was going on and she knew she had to say something so she confronted Andrew about it. It must have been the most difficult thing Amy has ever had to do.
‘Now she is getting used to life without him and it is really hard. Luckily, she has some great friends around her who are supporting her every step of the way.
Side by side: Sources close to Nuttall say that she has been supported by her close friend Joanne Froggatt, who used to live close to her and Buchan. (pictured on TV show Liar)
New love: Broadchurch star Buchan is said to have left the family home over Christmas and moved in with Leila Farzad, after meeting while working on the BBC series Better
Happier times: The actor, best known for his role as Mark Latimer in Broadchurch married Downton Abbey star Amy in 2012 and the couple have two children (pictured in 2017)
‘One is Joanne and only a few years ago she split from her husband but she has got through and come out the other side.’
As well as starring in Downton Abbey, the women also appeared in both series of ITV drama Liar together in 2017 and 2020.
Her friends told MailOnline that the split left the actress ‘crushed’ as she attempts to rebuild her life.
One said: ‘It’s been very hard for Amy. She’s been crying virtually every day since it happened and she’s struggling to cope with things. She can’t even bring herself to talk about it as she’s still trying to make sense of it all.’
Former flame: Leila was previously married to husband James, with the pair tying the knot in 2013, after being friends for six years. They have daughter Allegra, born in 2014
Cute: She posted a photo of a note her little girl had hidden in her suitcase as she went away to film, which read: ‘I’m very proud of you mummy’
United: Earlier this month, Leila took to social media to share a gushing tribute to Buchan in a montage featuring the Better cast and crew
Another friend added: ‘Amy and the kids have been hit very hard by this, as you can imagine. They are all crushed. One minute they were living an idyllic family life in a beautiful house and the next, Andrew walks out on them.
‘I’ve seen Amy a few times and when I do, she just bursts into tears. She’s been doing a lot of crying and is still grieving the end of the marriage.’
A close family friend told MailOnline: ‘Amy and the whole family are devastated by what has happened.
‘Her parents are really upset by this as is everyone. ‘People are very angry at Andrew by what he’s done. ‘We just did not see this coming. ‘It’s a massive shock.’
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