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Kelly, Nicky split

ONLY LAST MONTH they were hosting a glamorous party to celebrate her MBE. But now Kelly Hoppen and the celebrity hairdresser Nicky Clarke have split — the result, say her friends, of his infidelity.

The interior designer, whose clients include the Beckhams, told Nicky it was over five weeks ago and was furious at his betrayal.

A friend said: “Everything came to a head when she started to suspect that something was going on. There was a blazing row. Kelly gave Nicky an ultimatum but he continued to meet up and carry on with the woman Kelly was already suspicious of. Their relationship is dead in the water and there is no going back.’

The hairdresser, whose clients include Liz Hurley and Jemima Khan, began dating Kelly two years ago. He transformed her image, persuading her to swap her corkscrew curls for a straighter, sleeker look. The couple became regulars at film premieres and charity events, always in matching blow dries. At home, according to Kelly, they relaxed by watching films in bed wearing matching collagen eye masks.

Nicky’s first marriage to his business partner, Lesley, broke up ten years ago after he had an affair with former model Susie Bick.

A spokesperson for Kelly said: “Kelly decided to take a break from her relationship with Nicky Clarke five weeks ago. She feels the break will allow certain matters to hopefully be resolved. She wishes him well and is definitely not ruling out a resumption of their close relationship in the future.”

A friend said: “Kelly had a party at a restaurant in Notting Hill after collecting her MBE at Buckingham Palace but since then nobody has really seen her. Kelly also discovered Nicky had taken this other woman away on a skiing holiday. He’s been unfaithful before and they got over it but this time she can’t take any more.”

Born in South Africa, Kelly, 49, became one of Britain’s best-known designers for her neutral rooms. She has been married twice, to restaurateur Graham Corrett, by whom she has a daughter, Natasha, 26, and American banker Ed Miller, the father of Sienna Miller.

Nicky’s estranged wife Lesley recently revealed that she wishes she had fought to save their relationship. They have two children, never divorced and still spend every Christmas and summer holiday together. When Nicky received an OBE last year he took Lesley, not Kelly, to the ceremony.

The friend said: “Kelly has had to live with knowing Lesley was a permanent fixture. Now, though, she’s just had enough. There are only so many chances you can give someone.”