Daytime television thrives on debate, honesty, and surprise — but few moments truly stop a studio in its tracks.
On Monday morning, Janet Street Porter delivered exactly that.
At 79, the outspoken broadcaster, columnist and Loose Women legend revealed she has married for the fifth time, dropping the news not through headlines or press releases — but in a quietly joyful video that left both the panel and viewers at home stunned.
It was unexpected.
It was deeply symbolic.
And it was pure Janet.
A Secret Kept — Until Now
Appearing on Loose Women on February 2, Janet shocked fellow panellists Kaye Adams, Brenda Edwards, Sue Cleaver and Nadia Sawalha by announcing she had been “keeping a big secret”.
Moments later, a pre-recorded clip played.
Standing alongside her long-term partner Peter Spanton, 70, and their beloved dog Badger, Janet smiled into the camera and delivered the news with her trademark wit and warmth.
“Hi everyone,” she said. “I’ve been keeping a big secret. It’s my big news. Peter and me — and Badger — got married on Saturday.”
Then came the line that instantly went viral.
“I finally did it. I waited till last for the best.”
A Love Story Decades In The Making
Janet and Peter’s romance is not a whirlwind — it is a 25-year partnership, built quietly away from the spotlight. The couple have been together since 1999, weathering careers, public scrutiny, and the realities of long-term love without ever rushing to make it official.
Until now.
The wedding, which took place over the weekend, was kept deliberately private. No glossy exclusives. No staged photographs. Just a personal milestone revealed on Janet’s own terms — in front of the audience that has followed her for decades.
Details of the ceremony remain under wraps, but the message was unmistakable: this was not about spectacle, but meaning.
Studio Joy — And Viewers In Tears
Back in the studio, the panel erupted with smiles, laughter and applause. Brenda Edwards appeared especially thrilled, beaming as the news sank in.
At home, viewers reacted instantly.
Social media quickly filled with messages praising Janet for rewriting expectations around age, marriage, and happiness.
For many, it wasn’t just a wedding announcement — it was a statement.
Five Marriages, One Unapologetic Life
Janet Street Porter has never pretended to be conventional — and her romantic history reflects a life lived boldly.
Her first marriage was to photographer Tim Street Porter in 1967, ending in divorce in 1975. That same year, she married publisher Tony Elliott, a relationship that lasted just two years.
In 1979, she wed Canadian documentary maker Frank Cvitanovich, divorcing in 1981. Her fourth marriage, to David Sorkin in 1997, ended in 1999 — shortly before she began her long chapter with Peter.
Each relationship marked a different era of her life. None defined her. None diminished her.
Instead, Janet has always spoken openly about independence, resilience, and refusing to settle — for a partner, or for society’s expectations.
“The Best” Came Last
At 79, Janet’s announcement landed with particular force. In a culture obsessed with youth and first chances, she offered a reminder that love does not run out of time.
This wasn’t a fairytale ending.
It was something rarer.
A woman who lived fully, loved honestly, failed publicly, learned loudly — and still believed enough in love to say “yes” one more time.
And when she said she “saved the best for last,” it didn’t sound like a joke.
It sounded like certainty.
Because for Janet Street Porter, the message was clear:
There is no final chapter on happiness.
Only the one you choose to write next.