Inside Gavin and Stacey Uncle Bryn star Rob Brydon's 'derailing' divorce that 'traumatised' him
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This Christmas, Gavin and Stacey fans are in for a real treat, with the eagerly-awaited finale of the iconic '00s-era sitcom guaranteed to bring families together on the sofa. And many will be particularly looking forward to catching up with excitable Uncle Bryn.
Played by Rob Brydon, cheerful Bryn never fails to make viewers smile with his enthusiasm for everything from Sat Nav of his trusty Citroen Xsara Picasso to Mint Baileys. Just don't ask him about that fishing trip. Behind the scenes, however, actor Rob, 59, has nursed an agonising heartbreak with a traumatic divorce plunging him into a deep depression.
As Gavin and Stacey fans say one final 'What's occurin'?' to Bryn and the gang, the Mirror takes a look at Glamorgan-born Rob's devastating split, which left him feeling "lost". Rob divorced his first wife, Martina Fitchie, in 2001, after nine years of marriage, in what is understood to have been a "mutual" yet "traumatic" decision. The Would I Lie to You host first locked eyes with Martina in a Cardiff pub back when he was working at Radio Wales alongside Martina's producer sister.
After making the move to London, comedian Rob's acting career skyrocketed, while Martina found work as a nanny. They went on to raise a family together, welcoming their three children Katie, 30, Amy, 25, and Harry, 28. The breakdown of his marriage "traumatised" Rob, so much so that he couldn't even write about the sensitive topic in his autobiography.
It wasn't until 16 years later that Rob decided to open up about the painful split in an interview with The Times, where he explained that their relationship "just came to an end". Rob confessed: "You lose excitement with marriage. [...] You can't have everything, though.".
