Claire Fellows is a British costume designer and the former wife of celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott. They married in 1989, separated in 2012 after 23 years together, and share two children, Jimmy and Maddie Harriott. Claire has deliberately stayed out of the public eye before, during, and after the marriage. She is one of the rare celebrity spouses who genuinely chose privacy, not obscurity.
Key Points:
- Married Ainsley Harriott in 1989, separated 2012
- Profession: costume designer in British TV and film
- Two children: Jimmy and Maddie Harriott
- No verified social media presence
- The separation was linked to career pressure, not scandal
Quick Reference:
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Claire Fellows |
| Known For | Former wife of Ainsley Harriott |
| Profession | Costume Designer |
| Marriage Year | 1989 |
| Separation Year | 2012 |
| Children | Jimmy Harriott, Maddie Harriott |
| Nationality | British |
| Social Media | Not publicly active |
| Current Status | Private individual |
Who is Claire Fellows?
Claire Fellows is a costume designer by profession. That is a real, technical career, not a vague title. Costume designers in British TV and film work on sourcing, fitting, and creating wardrobes for entire productions. They collaborate closely with directors and production designers. It is detailed, demanding, behind-the-scenes work.
According to the UK’s Creative Industries Federation, the British film and TV sector employed over 180,000 people in 2023, with costume departments being a core part of every production.
She and Ainsley met before his television career took off. He was working as a chef; she was building her own career. Their relationship grew on relatively equal footing, which made the shift, him becoming a household name, her staying private, all the more striking later.
Claire Fellows and Ainsley Harriott: Their 23-Year Marriage
They married in 1989. At that point, Ainsley Harriott was a professional chef with no major TV profile. Over the following decade, everything changed.
Key timeline:
- 1989: Claire Fellows and Ainsley Harriott marry
- Early 1990s: Ainsley rises to fame through Ready Steady Cook and Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook.
- Mid-to-late 1990s: Peak TV fame, global recognition
- 2000s: Two children born, Jimmy and Maddie
- 2012: Couple separates after 23 years together
23 years covers the full arc of his career, from unknown chef to national celebrity. And through all of it, Claire Fellows stayed out of the spotlight.
Why Did Claire Fellows and Ainsley Harriott Separate?
This is the question most people come looking for. The answer is less dramatic than tabloids suggest.
Ainsley Harriott has spoken about it publicly. On the podcast How to Be a Man, he opened up about the personal cost of his career:
“I was away a lot. That takes a toll.”
He acknowledged that the demands of TV, constant travel, long hours, public appearances, created distance in the marriage. He spoke with genuine regret, not blame. There was no public scandal, no reported affair. The separation appears to have been the quiet result of two people growing apart under the weight of an unbalanced life.
Research consistently shows this pattern. A 2022 study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that careers involving high public visibility and irregular schedules significantly increase relationship strain over time.
What led to the separation, based on Harriott’s own words:
- Extended periods away from home
- The emotional demands of maintaining a public persona
- The gradual disconnection that builds over years, not one single event
Claire Fellows as a Mother: Jimmy and Maddie Harriott
Both children, Jimmy and Maddie Harriott, have been raised almost entirely away from media attention. This was clearly a shared decision. Neither parent has used the children for press coverage or social media content.
What little is publicly known:
- Both children carry the Harriott surname
- They have appeared occasionally at public events with their father
- Neither has pursued a public profile
That level of consistent privacy across two children over two decades takes real effort. It speaks to both parents being aligned on at least one thing after the separation.
Claire Fellows’ Career as a Costume Designer
Most articles about her mention “costume designer” once and move on. That does a disservice to the actual work.
What costume designers actually do:
- Research the historical and cultural context of a production
- Source, adapt, or build garments for every character
- Work within tight budget and schedule constraints
- Collaborate with directors, actors, and production designers
It is skilled, creative, technical work. The British costume design industry has produced internationally recognised talent, from the BBC’s period dramas to major film productions. According to ScreenSkills UK, the average experienced costume designer in British television earns between £40,000 and £65,000 annually.
Claire Fellows chose a career that kept her behind the camera by design, long before privacy became something she needed to protect.
Where is Claire Fellows Now?
Honestly? Not much is publicly known, and that appears to be exactly how she wants it.
Since the 2012 separation, Claire Fellows has not given interviews, maintained public social media accounts, or appeared in press coverage beyond being referenced in articles about Ainsley Harriott. She has continued living privately.
Ainsley, by contrast, has been linked to other people since the separation, though he has kept those relationships relatively low-profile too.
What we know about her life post-2012:
- No confirmed public relationships
- No active social media presence
- No published interviews
- Continues to be referenced as a costume designer
Her absence from public life is active, not accidental.
What Ainsley Harriott Has Said About Claire Fellows
Harriott has spoken about his marriage and separation with genuine care and honesty. In interviews and podcast appearances, he has consistently described Claire with respect.
He has acknowledged that his career absorbed years that could have gone elsewhere. He did not frame the separation as her fault or as a mutual failure. He spoke like someone who understood, too late, what sustained absence actually costs.
That tone, reflective, not bitter, tells you something about both of them.
Why Privacy is Rare (And Worth Noting)
A 2023 YouGov survey found that 67% of British adults believe celebrity spouses face unfair media scrutiny simply by association. Claire Fellows is an example of someone who refused to accept that as inevitable.
She built a real career. She raised two children outside of tabloid culture. She separated from one of Britain’s most recognised TV personalities and still did not walk into a newspaper office.
That is genuinely unusual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Claire Fellows? Claire Fellows is a British costume designer and the former wife of TV chef Ainsley Harriott. They were married from 1989 to 2012.
When did Claire Fellows marry Ainsley Harriott? They married in 1989, before Ainsley Harriott became a television personality.
Why did Ainsley Harriott and Claire Fellows separate? Harriott has cited the pressures of his TV career, extended time away, emotional distance, as the primary factors. There was no public scandal involved.
What does Claire Fellows do for a living? She is a costume designer, working in British TV and film production.
Do Ainsley Harriott and Claire Fellows have children? Yes. They have two children together: Jimmy Harriott and Maddie Harriott.
Where is Claire Fellows now? She lives privately and has not maintained any public presence since the separation in 2012.
Is Ainsley Harriott remarried? As of 2026, Ainsley Harriott has not publicly remarried.
How long were Claire Fellows and Ainsley Harriott together? They were married for 23 years, from 1989 to 2012.
