Paul Hollywood Wife: Who Is Melissa Spalding, How Did They Meet, and What Happened to His First Marriage?

The Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood is married to Melissa Spalding, a former pub landlady from Kent. The couple tied the knot on September 20, 2023, in a luxury wedding ceremony at the Anassa Hotel in Cyprus, surrounded by family members and close friends.

Hollywood, who was previously married to cook and author Alexandra Hollywood, began dating Spalding after meeting her at a village pub in Kent. Their relationship has remained relatively private despite his television fame. The couple now share a farmhouse in the English countryside, where they enjoy a quieter lifestyle with their four cats.

Who Is Paul Hollywood’s Wife, Melissa Spalding?

Melissa Spalding is best known as the second wife of celebrity baker and television personality Paul Hollywood. Before their marriage, she worked as the landlady of the Chequers Inn, a traditional country pub in Smarden, Kent.

Unlike her husband, who has spent years appearing on British television, Spalding has generally preferred to remain outside the entertainment spotlight.

Her background in hospitality gave her a connection to the food and restaurant industry, although her career followed a different path from Hollywood’s professional baking work.

Spalding became more widely known after her relationship with the Great British Bake Off judge became public. Since then, she has occasionally accompanied him to events but has largely avoided discussing their private life in interviews.

Details about her age, early family life, and education have not been extensively documented in reliable public accounts.

How Did Paul Hollywood and Melissa Spalding Meet?

Paul Hollywood and Melissa Spalding met through the Chequers Inn in Smarden, Kent, where Spalding worked as the landlady.

Hollywood was a regular customer at the village pub, giving the pair opportunities to become acquainted away from television studios and celebrity events.

Their friendship gradually developed into a romantic relationship, which became publicly known in 2019.

At the time, Hollywood was navigating changes in his personal life following the breakdown of his first marriage.

The couple initially kept their relationship relatively low-key, although their appearances together eventually attracted media attention.

Their shared connection to Kent became an important part of their relationship. Rather than relocating to London or pursuing a highly public lifestyle, they continued spending much of their time in the countryside.

After several years together, Hollywood and Spalding decided to marry.

When Did Paul Hollywood Marry Melissa Spalding?

Paul Hollywood and Melissa Spalding married on September 20, 2023, at the Anassa Hotel in Cyprus.

The luxury resort, located near Polis on the island’s northwestern coast, provided a Mediterranean setting for their wedding celebrations.

The ceremony was attended by relatives and friends, with reports indicating that approximately 75 guests joined the couple.

Hollywood’s Great British Bake Off co-host Noel Fielding was among the recognizable entertainment figures associated with the celebrations.

The wedding reportedly included several days of festivities, allowing guests to enjoy the resort and surrounding coastal scenery.

Hollywood wore a formal wedding outfit, while Spalding chose an elegant bridal gown.

The ceremony marked Hollywood’s second marriage and came approximately four years after his divorce from Alexandra Hollywood was finalized.

Although the wedding attracted considerable media interest, the couple did not turn the occasion into a major televised event.

Who Was Paul Hollywood’s First Wife, Alexandra Hollywood?

Before marrying Melissa Spalding, Paul Hollywood was married to Alexandra Hollywood, a cook, food writer, and television personality.

The former couple met in Cyprus during the 1990s, when Paul was working as a head baker at a luxury hotel.

Alexandra was employed in the hospitality industry at the time, and their shared professional environment helped establish their relationship.

They married in 1998 and subsequently moved to the United Kingdom, where Paul continued developing his career as a baker.

The couple welcomed a son, Josh Hollywood, in 2001.

As Paul’s television career expanded, Alexandra also developed her own professional identity through cooking, writing, and food-related appearances.

However, their marriage experienced difficulties during his growing television fame.

The couple separated in 2013 following Hollywood’s widely reported relationship with his American Baking Competition co-star Marcela Valladolid.

Paul and Alexandra later reconciled, but their marriage eventually broke down again.

They announced another separation in 2017, and their divorce was finalized in 2019.

Does Paul Hollywood Have Children With Melissa Spalding?

Paul Hollywood and Melissa Spalding do not have any publicly confirmed children together.

Hollywood has one son, Josh, from his first marriage to Alexandra Hollywood.

Josh was born in 2001 and has generally maintained a private life despite his father’s television career.

Hollywood has occasionally spoken about his relationship with his son, although family matters have not always been straightforward following his divorce.

Spalding became part of Hollywood’s family life after their marriage in 2023.

The couple have not publicly announced plans to have children together.

Their household is also known for its four cats, which have become part of their life in Kent.

Where Do Paul Hollywood and Melissa Spalding Live?

Paul Hollywood and Melissa Spalding live in a farmhouse in Kent, a county in southeastern England known for its villages, farmland, and historic properties.

Their home offers a quieter environment than the busy television studios where Hollywood spends much of his professional time.

The couple reportedly share the property with four cats.

Hollywood has long maintained a connection to Kent, where he previously lived during his first marriage and developed strong ties to the local community.

Their country lifestyle reflects Spalding’s background in village hospitality and Hollywood’s preference for spending time away from television cameras when he is not working.

Although the couple occasionally share glimpses of their life together, they have not made their home a regular feature of public entertainment coverage.

Paul Hollywood’s Career on The Great British Bake Off

Paul Hollywood was born on March 1, 1966, in Wallasey, Cheshire, England.

He developed his baking skills through his family’s bakery business before working professionally at hotels in the United Kingdom and overseas.

His career included positions at several prestigious hotels, where he specialized in artisan bread and traditional baking techniques.

Hollywood became a household name in 2010 when he joined The Great British Bake Off as a judge alongside Mary Berry.

His technical knowledge, straightforward criticism, and distinctive handshake for exceptional bakes quickly became recognizable features of the program.

When the show moved from the BBC to Channel 4 in 2017, Hollywood remained a judge, later working alongside Prue Leith.

He has also appeared in television programs exploring international baking traditions, including Paul Hollywood’s Bread and Paul Hollywood’s City Bakes.

Alongside his television career, Hollywood has published several cookbooks and developed commercial projects connected to baking.

His professional success has made him one of Britain’s most recognizable food television personalities.

Paul Hollywood and Melissa Spalding’s Marriage Today

Paul Hollywood and Melissa Spalding celebrated their third wedding anniversary in September 2026.

Since marrying in Cyprus, the couple have continued maintaining a relatively private life in Kent.

Spalding has largely stayed away from the public attention surrounding Hollywood’s television appearances, while he continues working on The Great British Bake Off and other baking projects.

Their relationship developed through an everyday connection at a village pub rather than through the entertainment industry.

For Hollywood, the marriage represents a new chapter following the end of his long relationship with Alexandra.

As of October 2026, Melissa Spalding remains Paul Hollywood’s wife. Their life together combines his busy television career with a quieter home environment in the Kent countryside.