Janet Street-Porter has finally opened up about her secret wedding to long-term partner Peter Spanton, revealing she kept the intimate ceremony private because she felt “embarrassed” after her previous marriages. 💕
The Loose Women star, 79, stunned viewers earlier this year when she announced that she had quietly married Peter, her partner of more than two decades. The couple tied the knot in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on January 31, 2026, with Janet later confirming the news on Loose Women in typical no-nonsense style.
But behind the surprise announcement was a far more emotional story. Speaking on Tuesday’s episode of Loose Women, Janet admitted she had not told people about the wedding beforehand, explaining that after being married several times before, she struggled with how others might react. “I didn’t tell anybody at all,” she said, before adding that she and Peter had been together for 26 years and that part of her found the whole situation “embarrassing.”
For a woman known for her sharp tongue, fierce independence and refusal to soften herself for public approval, the admission was surprisingly vulnerable. Janet has built a career on saying exactly what she thinks, yet this deeply personal milestone left her anxious, shaky and unexpectedly emotional.
She explained that the night before the wedding, nerves overwhelmed her. Rather than treating the ceremony as a joke or a casual formality, Janet said she wanted it to be meaningful for Peter, who had never been married before. That detail appeared to weigh heavily on her. She did not want the day to feel like another chapter in her colourful romantic history. She wanted it to be lovely for him. 💐
That honesty gave the moment its heart. Janet may have been married four times before Peter, but this wedding clearly mattered. Her previous husbands include photographer Tim Street-Porter, Time Out editor Tony Elliott, film director Frank Cvitanovich and David Sorkin, whom she married in the 1990s. Her marriage to Peter marks her fifth.
On Loose Women, Janet reflected candidly on her past, describing one earlier marriage as a “big mistake” and admitting that her history made her feel self-conscious about marrying again. “Frankly, I’ve been married a lot of times before,” she said, with the kind of bluntness that has made her a daytime TV favourite for years.
Yet her co-stars were visibly moved by the revelation. Christine Lampard said the panel had been shocked when they received Janet’s wedding video, while others shared their delight that she had found happiness after so many years with Peter. When Janet originally revealed the marriage on the ITV show, she appeared by video with Peter and their dog Badger, joking that she had finally done it and had “saved the best till last.”
The ceremony itself could not have been further from a celebrity spectacle. There was no glossy magazine spread, no grand society guest list and no overblown display. Instead, it was tiny, private and deeply personal — reportedly attended by just four guests. For Janet, who has spent decades in the public eye, that decision made perfect sense. Some happiness, even for the most outspoken stars, is best kept away from noise.
Her relationship with Peter has long been one of the quieter constants in her life. The couple have been together since 1999, and Peter is known for staying largely out of the spotlight despite Janet’s very public career.
That may be why the marriage feels so touching. It was not rushed, flashy or performed for attention. It came after decades of companionship, shared life and quiet commitment — proof that even the most independent people can still want something tender, formal and lasting.
Janet’s confession also showed a softer side of ageing, love and second — or fifth — chances. At 79, she did not pretend to be a blushing bride or rewrite her past. She acknowledged the awkwardness, the nerves and the baggage. Then she married him anyway.
And perhaps that is what makes the story so charming. Janet Street-Porter did not need a huge wedding to prove anything. She simply needed Peter, a handful of witnesses, and the courage to let herself be happy without turning the moment into a performance. ✨
