Fearne Cotton has returned to using her birth surname professionally following the breakdown of her ten-year marriage to Jesse Wood.
The presenter and podcast host, 44, has changed her registered name as a director of her private company, We Are Happy Place, from Mrs Fearne Wood to Ms Fearne Cotton.
The move comes approximately 18 months after Fearne and Jesse announced their separation in December 2024.
It also follows the news that Jesse’s new partner, former Made In Chelsea star Gemma Gregory, is expecting his fifth child.
Fearne’s representatives reportedly declined to confirm whether her divorce from Jesse has been finalised.
Returning to her own identity
Fearne has continued to use Cotton publicly throughout much of her broadcasting career, but company records had previously listed her under her married name.
Her decision to formally return to Ms Fearne Cotton appears to mark another step forward as she adjusts to life following the separation.
We Are Happy Place is connected to the presenter’s work across broadcasting, publishing and her successful Happy Place podcast and wellness brand.
The name change arrives during what Fearne recently described as a challenging and emotionally demanding period.
Although she did not directly connect her comments to Jesse or their divorce, she admitted she was dealing with “certain stressful things.”
“Trying to grow rather than drown”
Speaking to followers in an Instagram video, Fearne reflected on the pressure of balancing work, parenthood and personal difficulties.
She said she was racing through the week, juggling numerous responsibilities and attempting to learn from the stressful circumstances surrounding her.
Fearne explained that she was trying to “grow and learn” through those challenges rather than allowing herself to feel overwhelmed by them.
The broadcaster did not reveal exactly what was causing the stress.
However, her remarks came shortly after Jesse and Gemma publicly shared their excitement about beginning a new chapter together.
A stranger’s kindness changes her day
Fearne’s emotional message centred on an unexpected moment of kindness she experienced while visiting a London coffee shop with her daughter Honey.
An elderly man approached the pair and complimented Honey’s distinctive red hair.
He then wrote a poem for Fearne and her daughter, offering them prayers, happiness and a wish that they would always have smiles on their faces.
Before leaving, the man reportedly asked whether they should “jump for joy.”
Fearne, Honey and the stranger all jumped together, causing the mother and daughter to burst into laughter.
The brief encounter transformed their mood and left them walking away with enormous smiles.
For Fearne, it served as a timely reminder that kindness still exists even during difficult periods.
“There are good eggs out there,” she told followers, encouraging people to remain open to unexpected moments of warmth.
Jesse begins a new chapter
Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, is now preparing to welcome a baby with Gemma.
The couple recently shared photographs from their new home, with Gemma describing the move and pregnancy as the beginning of an exciting chapter.
She posted images showing her growing baby bump while the couple settled into the property and enjoyed a barbecue in the garden.
Jesse already has four children, including Rex and Honey with Fearne.
The former couple continue to share parenting responsibilities for their son, 12, and daughter, nine.
Financial difficulties emerge
The pregnancy announcement followed reports that Jesse had spoken openly about financial pressure after the collapse of his marriage.
During a January court appearance relating to a speeding offence, he reportedly told magistrates that he was living on savings and seeking employment.
Jesse said work expected to begin in 2024 had been delayed, leaving him with an income of approximately £1,000 per month.
Publicly filed company accounts reportedly show that his business, Rekognition Sound Limited, has significant liabilities.
The company was said to hold just under £11,000 in cash while owing more than £111,000 to creditors, including bank loans.
The latest available accounts reportedly placed the company more than £100,000 in the red.
These figures reflect company records and do not necessarily provide a complete picture of Jesse’s personal finances.
The former family home
Fearne and Jesse previously lived together in a property in Richmond, south-west London.
Reports state that the house was purchased by Fearne in 2014 for approximately £3.15 million and is registered in her sole name.
However, ownership records alone do not necessarily determine every possible financial claim arising during divorce proceedings.
Neither Fearne nor Jesse has publicly detailed the terms of their separation or any financial negotiations between them.
They have largely avoided discussing one another directly since confirming that their marriage had ended.
Fearne’s difficult year
The broadcaster has been candid about experiencing major emotional and physical challenges in recent years.
Alongside her separation, Fearne underwent surgery after doctors discovered benign tumours near her jaw.
She has continued working on her podcast, books and Happy Place projects while raising her children.
Her public message has frequently centred on emotional wellbeing, personal boundaries and finding calm during uncertainty.
The recent Instagram story reflected that philosophy.
Rather than pretending life was easy, Fearne acknowledged the pressure she was facing while celebrating the small encounter that gave her hope.
A symbolic fresh start
Changing her formal name from Wood back to Cotton may appear to be an administrative detail, but it also carries emotional significance.
It reconnects Fearne with the identity under which she built her career long before her marriage.
After a decade as Jesse’s wife, she is now entering a different stage of life as a broadcaster, businesswoman and mother.
Jesse is building a future with a new partner and preparing to welcome another child.
Fearne, meanwhile, appears focused on navigating her own transition, protecting her children and moving forward without becoming consumed by the strain surrounding her.
Her divorce status may remain private, but the message behind her name change seems clear.
Mrs Fearne Wood has stepped away.
Ms Fearne Cotton is moving into her next chapter.
