Pictured: Fearne Cotton, 43, and TV director Elliot Hegarty, 53, in South West London

With their romance now firmly out in the open, Fearne Cotton and  TV director Elliot Hegarty were spotted enjoying a relaxed stroll together in leafy Richmond, south-west London — and it was one striking detail that truly caught the eye.

Fearne adorned a casual purple and orange patterned cardigan and casual blue jeans while Hegarty was seen in a blue two piece accompanied with sunglasses

The loved-up pair, who were seen walking hand-in-hand last week, appeared more at ease than ever as they stepped out together following the end of their respective marriages late last year. After months of keeping a low profile, it marked a noticeable shift for the couple, who were first thrust into the spotlight after being photographed kissing passionately during a Soho night out in February.

The loved up pair were pictured with their arms around each other as they took a romantic stroll through the streets of Richmond

Now, with Elliot, 53, debuting a fresh peroxide blond look to match Fearne’s signature golden locks, the drama that once surrounded their relationship seemed a distant memory.

At the time their romance became public, both had split from their partners only weeks earlier. It was reported that Elliot’s wife Laura, 51, was left devastated — and only learned of the relationship when the intimate photos emerged.

Fearne and Elliot were seen packing on the PDA as they held hands while on their walk

The situation, some suggested, felt like a storyline pulled straight from one of Elliot’s own projects, whether the steamy Jilly Cooper adaptation Rivals, which he had just directed, or his BBC One drama Cheaters.

An insider previously revealed that Laura has been “finding it hard to come to terms with Elliot’s new relationship”, but has chosen to “keep her head down and focus on the children” at the former couple’s £2 million marital home in north London.

The couple were all smiles as Hegarty sported his new fresh peroxide blond makeover to match Ferne

During their Richmond stroll, Fearne, 43, kept things casual in a purple-and-orange patterned cardigan paired with blue jeans and trainers, while Elliot opted for a blue two-piece outfit and sunglasses. The pair were seen with their arms around one another, smiling and packing on the PDA as they wandered through the quiet streets.

Fearne accessorised her look with a stylish cross-body bag engraved with the initials “FC”, while both appeared relaxed and coordinated — right down to their newly matching hair colour.

Ferne was seen carrying a stylish cross-body bag engraved with the words FC, with the pair both adorning casual trainers

A source close to the couple said:
“He’s even changed his look since all this started — cropped and peroxided his hair. He was always handsome, but much more low-key with mousey brown hair. He’s like a different person now.”

Fearne’s former husband of ten years, Jesse Wood, 48 — the son of Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood — was also said to be deeply hurt by how quickly she moved on, just 11 weeks after their separation was confirmed.

The broadcaster, who shares two children, Rex, 12, and Honey, nine, with Jesse, spoke candidly last week about the emotional toll of single parenting.

Opening up on a Women’s Health podcast, Fearne admitted:
“Sometimes I have a cry in my car, call one of my best friends and go, ‘Are you having a sh**show too?’ Yeah… OK, it’s not just me. And then I crack on. And then it feels slightly better the next day.”

For now, however, Fearne and Elliot appear united — stepping confidently into the next phase of their relationship, golden locks and all.