Phil Spencer's life off-screen and special relationship with 'other wife' Kirsty

25 October 2023 , 18:00

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Phil Spencer lives a low-key life away from the cameras with his family-of-four (Image: Channel 4)

Phil Spencer is best known for presenting Channel 4's Location, Location, Location and its spin-off show Relocation, Relocation alongside his 'work wife' Kirstie Allsopp. But away from his passion for properties, the 53-year-old television presenter enjoys spending time with his Australian wife Fiona Spencer and their two sons, Jake, 16, and Ben, 13.

The charismatic TV host prefers to live a quiet life when he's not in front of cameras, but over the years, Phil has given fans an insight into his family and home. Phil, who is from Littlebourne in Kent, met Fiona in 1995 and persuaded her to move to England before they tied the knot in 2001. They now live in Hampshire with their two kids.

Phil has been with his Australian wife Fiona for over 20 years and they have two kids (@PIPofftheTV/Twitter)

While many viewers have questioned Phil's relationship with co-star Kirstie over the years, the pair have made it clear they are not a real-life couple. The presenters met over two decades ago at work and immediately clicked, with Phil often referring to her as his 'other wife' and Kirstie once admitting she knew him better than her own partner, property developer Ben Anderson. "I still know Phil better than I know Ben because Phil and I have spent more time together. We'll never be apart. I can't imagine a day when he and I go more than a month without seeing each other," she said in 2007.

Phil has insisted there is nothing but a "natural, platonic relationship" between them, while Kirstie has quashed any talk of an attraction with her TV partner. "I love Phil but I'm not attracted to him and I know he'd say the same about me," she told the Daily Express in 2007. "A lot of people think we've had the odd sneaky snog, which just isn't true."

Phil often refers to Kirstie Allsopp as his 'other wife' but insists they are only good friends (Channel 4 Press)

The presenting duo got tongues wagging in 2015 when they were spotted leaving a hotel bedroom together. Phil was seen coming out with Kirstie while carrying her bag - but there was actually a rather funny explanation for the awkward situation. "I was downstairs in reception, and Kirstie rang," he told Radio Times magazine in 2015. "She said, 'Darling, I've locked myself out of my room,' so I go up with a new card, let her in and wait while she packs and brushes her teeth. Then we walk out, I'm wheeling her suitcase, people notice."

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In a revealing interview on This Morning in 2016, Kirstie stated that Phil is "a really, really nice person" and explained their dynamic is too much like brother and sister to ever get involved romantically. "We have the same things at heart but we are very different personalities," she added. "It sounds awful but he is no more my type than I am his type." Phil has explained that Fiona is completely comfortable with their friendship.

Location, Location, Location returns tonight on Channel 4 at 8pm.

Nia Dalton