Martine McCutcheon’s wedding to Jack McManus was nearly a disaster after her veil caught on fire and she thought she’d have to give money to the mafia.

The EastEnders actress, 48, shocked fans on Thursday when she revealed Jack left her after 18 years together.

Fans were left in disbelief by the news as it came just three weeks after she shared a gushing birthday post to Jack on August 4 and revealed he was grieving the death of his father.

The couple married in 2012 in Italy’s picturesque Lake Como, five years after they started dating.

Speaking previously to Hello! magazine, Martine told how the veil of her Pronovias wedding dress accidentally caught on fire.

Martine McCutcheon ‘s wedding to Jack McManus was nearly a disaster after her veil caught on fire and she thought she’d have to give money to the mafia

The EastEnders actress, 48, shocked fans on Thursday when she revealed Jack left her after 18 years together

She said: ‘I wish we’d have practised talking in the microphone because my husband set my veil on fire when he put the microphone down on the table, then I had to reach over the candelabra to reach the microphone and get it.

‘And you literally see someone’s hands in the video, like putting out the fire on my veil. So I wish we’d gone through the vows.’

In another interview on The Chris and Rosie Ramsay Show, Martine claimed she’d have to make a donation to the Italian mafia if she wanted fireworks at the ceremony.

She said: ‘We were like, ‘We’d love fireworks’ and (the wedding planners) were like, ‘Yeah, you need to make a donation to the lake’. It’s a donation, like to the mafia. 

‘We had to pay them so many hidden costs,’ she explained. ‘It was like, ‘So, you want to have boats in this part of the lake? Ok, you have to make a donation’. This wasn’t hundreds, it was thousands.’ 

Announcing their split, Martine wrote: ‘After much thought and consideration, Jack has decided it’s best for us to separate after 18 years together and I accept his decision.’

She continued: ‘We are both so very blessed and grateful for our beautiful, 9 year old son Rafferty, who’s happiness and welfare, has always been, and will continue to be, our number 1 priority.

‘We both of course, still cherish and look forward to being parents together to our wonderful boy for the rest of our lives…

She shared the news in an Instagram post on Thursday, while on a ‘much needed’ holiday in Marbella with her son

Martine shared the shock announcement on Instagram, insisting that she and Rafferty will always ‘root for’ Jack going forward

A picture of Martine and Jack posted in December 2023, holding a huge bouquet of flowers on their 17th anniversary

‘Whilst this decision has evolved over a period of time, we are still finding our new way forward as a family and kindly ask for some privacy at this time… Especially for our little boy.

‘Our love for Rafferty, is something that will never, waver, or change and we obviously want to protect him and help him feel as safe and secure as possible.

‘Many thanks in advance for your respect and support, at this difficult time…

‘And I continue to send Jack, all the love, luck and happiness for the next chapter of his. Rafferty and I (as always,) are rooting for you!

‘Thank you all, for the love and support, now and always…Martine.xx.’

Martine is currently on holiday in Marbella with Rafferty and has been sharing a slew of swimsuit pictures as well as sweet mother/son snaps. 

Before making her shock announcement she shared a selfie in the pool with Rafferty and penned: ‘Marbella has woven its magic once again. Much needed! #grateful.’ 

She also shared a swimsuit snap and revealed she ‘felt so lucky’ to be abroad. 

Moments before she broke the news of her split, she shared a poignant post about heartbreak. 

It read: ‘I hope you know that your heart is enough. You’re smart enough and funny and interesting enough.

‘Your smile is enough, your light is enough and the parts of that struggle with it and try to hide, they’re enough too.

‘And if you just want to sit for hours and not say a single word, your presence is enough. You don’t have to talk to fill the noise, you don’t have to stay anything at all.

‘Just stay true to yourself, offer who you are – not who you think the world wants you to be. 

‘Because I promise you’re heart is enough You’re enough. You have nothing to prove.’ 

A day before announcing her split, Martine posted a pictured of a dazzling silver necklace penning: ‘Thank you Raffy! Me and you always!’ 

At the end of July, Martine posted a cryptic quote on her Instagram page about ‘letting go’ and ‘giving people space’ as she reflected on her ‘tense week’.

It read: ‘Let go. Love them from a distance. Let them figure out their feelings, what they want in life, where they’re going, and who they want to be. 

‘Focus on yourself and your goals while you’re giving them space. And remember, you’re not obligated to still be there waiting when they’re ready.’

Alongside the cryptic post, Martine wrote: ‘It’s been an intense week for many reasons and today is about decompressing, refuelling, contemplating all I feel I need to look at and making healthy choices in areas of my life to keep myself aligned, feeling happy whilst evolving but also feeling safe and grounded. 

A day before announcing her split, Martine posted a pictured of a dazzling silver necklace penning: ‘Thank you Raffy! Me and you always!’

At the end of July, Martine posted a cryptic quote on her Instagram page about ‘letting go’ and ‘giving people space’ as she reflected on her ‘tense week’

Alongside the post, Martine shared she had an ‘intense week’ and is trying to focus on making healthy choices in her life – prior to announcing her marriage split

‘Have you ever had to do the above (see post) in any kind of friendship or relationship? Did you find it difficult? Or was there an element of peace and relief to know this was the right thing at that moment in time? How did you put it in place? 

‘Did it help you find the truth of what you /the relationship was? Are you choosing to do this now? Did anything help give you the strength to put the right things in place? 

‘I’d love to hear your thoughts! I am so grateful to have some beautiful and wise souls follow me on here and I always appreciate learning from your experiences too.’

Martine and Jack’s shock split comes just weeks after she paid a birthday tribute to Jack and revealed he was grieving the death of his father. 

Sharing photos of Jack with their son Martine gushed that she hoped in time her husband could see how loved he is and what a role model he is to his own son.

‘Darling Jack, Happy 40th Birthday Darling. I know it’s a weird one and bittersweet as you have lost your Darling Dad, Mick and he was your best friend… It’s so hard to see you miss someone so much,’ Martine wrote.

Acknowledging the loss of brother LJ at the age of 31 in 2022, Martine continued: ‘You know when I lost my brother that I understand your grief and pain – And I also know that in time, You will value the gift of even having him be such a major role in your life and that he will be with you always. Nothing will ever take that away…’

‘It’s been a tough time for a long time but Mick has passed on to you, the resilience, strength and grace that you will need to not just survive but thrive in your life. I have no doubt you will show him that you took it all on board.’

‘I think you show your children how to “Do life” not so much by what you say but by what you actually do and act through the good, bad and all that’s in between and I know that Rafferty is source of strength and comfort to you and is so excited to have you be his guide and make magical memories together!’

Martine shared a birthday post this month in which she revealed her ‘darling Jack’ had lost his ‘darling Dad’ (Jack’s father pictured) 

Martine acknowledged the loss of brother LJ (pictured) at the age of 31 in 2022, sharing: ‘I understand your grief and pain’ 

Sharing photos of Jack with their son Rafferty, eight, Martine gushed that she hoped in time that her husband could see how loved he is

She told her husband it is ‘one step at a time darling. You know I love you unconditionally and I just wish I could make it all better!’

Reflecting on Jack’s career as a singer/songwriter she ended the post by gushing: ‘You are only just 40 and have already achieved so many dreams! Most of all YOU now have the love to pass on to your greatest achievement and gift in life, our boy.

‘I hope you feel the love around you today and know, that despite it all, you have the most amazing and rewarding next chapter coming your way! Now, deep breath, let’s have some fun with our boy!’

Martine and Jack renewed their vows in 2022 and two months later admitted they ‘don’t have the perfect relationship by any means’ but that she does ‘confide’ in him when ‘life gets tricky’.

She told The Sun of her relationship: ‘Both Jack and I have always been honest we don’t have the perfect relationship by any means.

‘We’ve had our ups and downs, like everybody. We’ve had our challenges, but I think ultimately we’re each other’s best friend.

‘When life gets tricky and isn’t always as fabulous it’s good you can have somebody you can talk too and confide in and be all of yourself with, and you know that’s a safe space and they’ve got your back.’

Martine soared to fame playing Tiffany in EastEnders (pictured with Ross Kemp as Grant) 

In 2002, she captured hearts when she played the unassuming love interest of Hugh Grant’s Prime Minister in Love Actually

In December 2016, during an appearance on Loose Women, Martine admitted her friends had helped ‘save’ her marriage to Jack.

She said: ‘I think actually my friends have saved my relationship a couple of times! There have been times without a doubt – I’ve been with Jack ten years now and of course we’ve had or ups and downs – a tough eight years out of ten bless him.

‘But through the trials and tribulations, I think my friends – when I feel I can’t get through to him – have made me see sense.

‘They’ve been like “calm down, you really love him, you two are meant to be together, stick at it”. Nowadays more than ever people just chuck in the towel – everything’s so disposable now.’

Martine played barmaid Tiff in EastEnders for four years, until the character was hit by a car on New Year’s Eve 1998.

Following her soap days, Martine went on to achieve a No.1 single in 1999 with the song My Perfect Moment, and won a Laurence Olivier Award for her West End performance of Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.

In 2002, she captured hearts when she played the unassuming love interest of Hugh Grant’s Prime Minister in Love Actually.

Most recently, Martine stunned the nation when she was revealed as Swan on hit celebrity TV show The Masked Singer.

Martine has also previously shared her struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome ME after being diagnosed back in 2011

The actress previously revealed she was hospitalised for Jack’s birthday in 2023 after she was left ‘feeling dizzy and could barely stand’

Martine has also previously shared her struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome ME after being diagnosed back in 2011.

The actress previously revealed she was hospitalised for Jack’s birthday in 2023 after she was left ‘feeling dizzy and could barely stand’.

She explained how grateful she was and explained how debilitating the condition can be. 

Despite the Echo Beach star appearing to be happy and relaxed, she told her followers that she had in fact suffered a flare up of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also called chronic fatigue syndrome or ME/CFS, is a long-term condition with a wide range of symptoms. 

The most common symptom is extreme tiredness, others include problems sleeping, such as waking up often during the night and difficulty with memory and concentration.

In 2023, Martine shared a private look into her battle with perimenopause, admitting she was suffering with ‘crippling anxiety’ that made her feel like she had lost her mind.

She penned: ‘Peri menopause symptoms… Such Fun!

Martine has also previously shared her struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome ME after being diagnosed back in 2011

In 2023, Martine shared a private look into her battle with perimenopause, admitting she was suffering with ‘crippling anxiety’ that made her feel like she had lost her mind

‘I have the hot flushes, the insomnia, the brain fog and fatigue … The list goes on doesn’t it?! And to be honest, having lived with M.E/CFS and fibro since my 20’s, those symptoms seem to be something I can cope with… (touch wood!)

‘However, what I’ve personally not heard mentioned as much, is the crippling anxiety you can get with the peri menopause.

‘A kind of irrational anxiety that makes no sense whatsoever! You feel like you’ve lost your own damn mind!

‘Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t seem to hear about this side of it as much. ‍I wanted to share this, just incase any of you out there feel the same and feel scared or worried – You aren’t alone!’

Martine went on to explain how her anxiety had become so bad, she had started to avoid doing ordinary things.

She added: ‘I’m pleased to report after going through a phase of not even feeling confident enough to drive (That’s SO not me!) that I’m now feeling much better and I’m working my way back to my own “normality”.’