Love-split Anthea must stay strong

How many chances do you give a chancer?

I’m asking the question after learning that Anthea Turner once the highest-earning woman on TV has separated from her husband Grant Bovey.

Last year, the businessman apparently got close to 25-year-old socialite Zoe de Mallet Morgan.

Anthea forgave him and I think she was right to give him a second chance.

But after discovering that they’ve split up because he’s allegedly still in touch with the other woman, I think it may be time for Anthea to call it a day.

She made the right decision to stand by her man the first time round. Her reasons were sound. She still loved him. She wanted to hold their family together and she believed they could work out their problems.

Many marriages go through difficult times. If one partner strays it puts added pressures on the relationship but if both people involved value what they have, are prepared to talk honestly about their feelings, perhaps seeking counselling if needed, it’s possible to heal the damage caused.

We are all flattered when someone finds us attractive and it’s easy to let a fun-filled, flirty relationship get out of hand. It doesn’t necessarily mean that love has gone out of the marriage.

Anthea recognised she’d be desperately unhappy if she lost Grant and the home life they had created together.

She knew she wasn’t a quitter. And so, because she loved him, she forgave him.

Grant’s three daughters from his first marriage convinced her it was the right decision. She did what many other women have done in her position she worked hard to rebuild their life. Now, if he has betrayed her again, the 53-year-old must be feeling heartbroken.

But if she takes him back this time I think she will lose something equally as precious as her marriage her own pride and sense of self worth.

Grant doesn’t have a great track record in the loyalty stakes. He left his first wife Della in 1998 to be with Anthea. His property business went bust and Anthea has worked hard to keep the family financially stable.

Last year, Anthea blamed herself for spending long periods of time away from home filming a Canadian food show. Classic female behaviour: “It must be my fault.” But sometimes a woman has to realise there are only so many times you can find reasons why a man has treated you badly.

If she accepts this how can she ever trust him again?

If the allegations are true, then he’s hurt and humiliated her once too often.

There’s a difference between being tolerant and being a doormat.

So Anthea, you once did a series of TV programmes teaching us how to clean up our houses may I suggest you shake off the doormat and sweep that man right out of the door.