Laurence Fox has found himself at the centre of several controversies in recent years, with his tumultuous marriage to the adored Billie Piper being just one chapter in a stormy narrative. Last January, a High Court judge determined that the actor-turned-aspiring-politician had defamed two individuals by branding them "paedophiles" on social media.

The 46-year-old actor was taken to court by ex-Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and drag queen Crystal following a Twitter dispute back in October 2020. Fox had targeted Mr Blake and the former RuPaul's Drag Race UK star, whose real name is Colin Seymour, with the accusation during a debate about Sainsbury's decision to observe Black History Month. This legal battle follows his suspension from GB News in September 2023 after making contentious remarks about a female journalist on air, reports the Mirror.

Many viewers pointed out online that Fox was once wed to the Girlfriend singer for eight years, a relationship that ended in 2016 due to what Piper described as "unreasonable behaviour". Billie finally broke her silence on her ex-husband Laurence, who has made headlines for a number of controversial statements.

The Secret Diary of a Call Girl star, 42, tied the knot to Laurence back in 2007, but their relationship failed to stand the test of time when the filed for divorce in 2016. In a recent interview with British Vogue, the mother-of-two said of Laurence: "I've had to make some choices and a divorce speaks for itself. Or at least it should."

She remarked: "Look, if people want to try and understand the workings of the guy, they ought to either ask him or his family. Ask [Fox's brother-in-law, actor and comedian] Richard Ayoade what he thinks, or his wife [Fox's actor sister] Lydia. They might have a more interesting take."

Laurence Fox, now often in the spotlight for his anti-woke views rather than his acting career, suffered a defeat in a High Court libel case after labelling a former Stonewall trustee and a drag artist as paedophiles online. Billie, who shares children with Laurence, admitted she found the current situation quite challenging.

Sharing her struggles with high fashion magazine, she disclosed that co-parenting with Laurence comes with "enormous difficulty." The former Doctor Who star admitted: "I close everything down and keep a very strict routine with the kids so that there's consistency.

"I keep them close. That's all I can do. I try to keep people from telling me stuff but it's really, really hard. I don't read it but everyone wants to talk about it. Sometimes I have to say to people, 'Please don't bring this to me, now or ever'."

Laurence and Billie got together in 2006 after they met while working on the stage play Treats. They wed in December 2007 and settled in West Sussex with their sons Winston, 15, and Eugene, aged 11. The actor has spoken out about the conflicts in their marriage, revealing they were marked by quarrels that got so intense he would end them by shouting 'cut'.

He told to The Sunday Times that he "100 per cent wound the f*** out of her," but now he steers clear of arguments. He declared: "You don't need that in your house. You don't need that sh*t."

Billie echoed his sentiments about their tumultuous relationship, describing it to Psychologies magazine as full of "ups and downs" and "stupid arguments". She said: "It's emotionally up and down – the extremities of emotion. Being in love isn't something that goes, 'Oh, this is it then'. It's more dramatic. It can make you feel sick and then out of control and hyper".

She added that their disputes were often trivial: "[The rows are] usually something really stupid, often born out of being exhausted." Laurence also shared with the Daily Mail that they sought counselling to salvage their "bad marriage", but ultimately separated in 2016.

The split led to a bitter custody fight over their sons, which Laurence attributed to the legal system rather than personal animosity. He has spoken about how the divorce and limited time with his sons drove him to thoughts of suicide and severe anxiety.

Discussing his struggles with The Mirror at the time, he said: "I almost felt like I couldn't go on. It all felt so hopeless. I understand why some men feel so hopeless they commit suicide and find themselves lying on the train tracks.

"The physical symptoms of trauma and suffering are profound panic attacks for an extended period of time, and I've never had a panic attack in my life before."

"I haven't slept for six months, even with sleeping pills. I go to bed the same time, same bed as the kids and just lie awake, sleeping two or three hours. My mind's whirring round. I'm seeing an amazing therapist, I love her. You've got to seek help, from your family, a therapist, a fitness trainer, whatever it is.

"I think mental health is much undiscussed in this country, men especially are scared of it, but it's good to talk about feelings. There's only so much room in the cupboard to store them up."

Laurence also confessed that Billie's ­continuing friendship with first husband Chris Evans was a challenge for him to handle. A source revealed to The Mirror that as her marriage unravelled, Billie sought comfort in Chris - whom she had previously described as her "soulmate without being lovers".

Laurence confessed to the publication: "I don't think I was super tolerant of having him around. I was just more naive than I should have been. Chris Evans' job is to observe people, interview them and be interested in them so that's what he does for better or worse."

While Chris has remained silent on these remarks, he has referred to Billie's new partner Johnny Lloyd as her "forever partner". Billie herself has admitted to struggling with a "massive life crisis" post-divorce, grappling with what she believed to be a pattern of "repetitive, negative behaviours".

Discussing her thirties and mental health on the Stagecraft with Gordon Cox podcast, the I Hate Suzie actress said: "I think your thirties are a time when you start reflecting on everything you have or haven't achieved, and where you're going and what your mental health is like."

She also shared insights on discussing womanhood and progression, stating: "It's a good climate to talk about being a woman and what you're subjected to and how you move forward. You have to laugh at a moment's life crisis because otherwise it just kills you."

Following the split, Billie had daughter Tallulah with Johnny Lloyd, while Laurence is reportedly single.