Snooker star Stephen Hendry leaves wife for 26-year-old lover

SNOOKER star Stephen Hendry has left his wife and children and moved to England to live with a woman almost 20 years his junior.

 Stephen Hendry has split from his wife of 19 years after an affair with actress Lauren Thundow[NC]

Henry, 45, who retired two years ago, amassed a fortune of £10million during a career in which he racked up 36 world-ranking titles and set the record for the most century breaks at 775.

His wife Mandy, 46, who is mother to their two sons Blaine, 17, and Carter, nine, is devastated by his decision to pursue a relationship with actress Lauren Thundow.

“I’m heartbroken that Stephen has made the decision to leave the marital home, relocate to England and pursue a new relationship,” she said. “Following his retirement, I had been looking forward to spending more time as a family, watching our boys grow up. This is a very trying and emotional time. However, my main priority is the well-being of my children.”

Hendry, born in South Queensferry and brought up in Inverkeithing, Fife, now works as a pundit for the BBC. He married Mandy, from Blackpool, at Muthill Parish Church in Perthshire in 1995, 11 years after they met at a Pontin’s holiday camp in Wales.

Mandy’s sister, Maria, a former world women’s snooker No 2, was competing in a tournament there, which also involved Hendry, then just 16. For many years, the media-shy couple lived a quiet but luxurious lifestyle near Gleneagles, Perthshire.

It was apparent to Mandy last July that something was wrong with Stephen. She badgered him into making some sort of confession that he was seeing someone else. They tried to make it work again but it just wasn’t happening

Mandy won praise for supporting Stephen throughout his career during which he earned as much as £1.5million a year in endorsements.

Despite his manager Ian Doyle insisting Mandy “had earned” the opportunity to enjoy the snooker ace’s retirement with him, the couple separated in February.

A source added: “It was apparent to Mandy last July that something was wrong with Stephen. She badgered him into making some sort of confession that he was seeing someone else. They tried to make it work again but it just wasn’t happening.”

Hendry is said to have met Lauren, a children’s entertainer, during the Snooker Legends exhibition tour in England, Northern Ireland and Germany last year.

The couple’s friends are equally shocked about the affair. “He is not the kind of guy who had a different profile in the media to what he is like at home,” said one. “He has always been a genuine bloke.”

Hendry is expected to present for the BBC at the snooker World Championships next weekend.

He and Lauren, who lives with her parents in Berkshire, declined to comment.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?