0 2012: The year of the celebrity break-up

If we were playing celebrity Pictionary and had to represent '2012' we'd draw a big fat broken heart.

2012 has not been relationship friendly as far as celebrities are concerned. Hearts have been shattering all over the shop with Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis the latest to join the long line of newly single famous folk staring forlornly down the tunnel of ex-love.

Being a couple when you're both in the public eye must be hard, but then at the same time you both understand how best to dodge paps, grab great freebies and look ace on any and all red carpets - so it's swings and roundabouts really.

But the people listed below have decided that mutual pap-kicking isn't enough to keep love alive and all called it quits in 2012. Which is a bit depressing. But hey, it's nearly lunchtime so that'll cheer you up. AND Johnny Depp's now single, which means we've all clearly got a shot. Happy days! (Sorry, Vanessa - we're just trying to make the best out it.)

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis

Johnny and Vanessa: romance RIP

AP

Yeah, so this is really sad. Johnny and Vanessa seemed to be one of the only couples in Hollywood who could successfully maintain a relationship out of the spotlight while both being hugely famous.

Rumours started earlier this year that things weren't going swimmingly, but they both repeatedly denied they were splitting up.

Yesterday evening though the couple released a statement confirming that they'd "amicably separated" after 14 years together. They asked that everyone "respect their privacy and, more importantly, the privacy of their children [Lily-Rose, 13, and son, Jack, 10]."

LOVE IS OFFICIALLY DEAD.

Myleene Klass and Graham Quinn

We don't know what went on behind closed doors, but we do know Graham won't do any better than this

Getty

An absolute shocker. After only being married for six months, more than a few eyebrows were raised when it was reported that Myleene's husband Graham had called time on their 11 year relationship.

Since the announcement in April, rumours have been bouncing around about why/how/when/where it happened - all of which have been denied by Graham's camp.

The latest rumour that the split was something to do with his friendship with X Factor dancer (and Matt Cardle's girlfriend) Sarah Robinson has been vehemently denied by Graham's lawyer to Metro: "This has nothing to do with Graham and Myleene's break up. He has been subjected to a number of allegations. We don't know who is putting them out there, but they are all being denied."

They have two kids together, 14-month-old Hero and four-year-old Ava.

Ronan and Yvonne Keating

Ronan and Yvonne: massive sadface

PA

Another 14 year relationship that hit the skids this year was ex-Boyzone singer Ronan's with his wife and mother of his three children, Yvonne.

They each made separate announcements on Twitter in April saying they split late last year, but had delayed announcing it for the sake of their kids (which is why they're in our 2012 list).

Ronan's tweet read, "Sadly our news is true. Thank u for all your support. Yvonne and I still love and care for each other and want to protect our kids. X"

Yvonne wrote, "Sadly our marriage ended late last year. We kept this news private to give everyone time to adjust. Thank you for your support. x"

It was rumoured that the marriage couldn't withstand Ronan's confession that he'd cheated on Yvonne for seven months with dancer Francine Cornell, then 26, in 2010.

We drew a sad face on the Boyzone poster next to our desk when we heard this.

Seal and Heidi Klum

Heidi and Seal in happier days

AP

One of our fave celebrity partnerships sank like a faulty schooner in January. The couple filed for divorce, citing 'irreconcilable' differences, after six years of marriage.

They met in 2004 when Heidi was pregnant with her daughter Leni, now seven, with Flavio Briatore. Seal later adopted Leni and they married in 2005. They have three other children together, Henry, 6, Johan, 5, and Lou, 2.

The loved-up couple used to renew their vows on each wedding anniversary and always seemed to be having a right laugh whenever pictured together.

They've remained amicable though and have both spoken in interviews about their respect for each other, which is grown up and mature and everything, but still really sad.

Dannii Minogue and Kris Smith

The height difference had nothing to do with the break-up, alright?

PA

The former X Factor judge split with the father of her son, Ethan, in April.

Like Ronan and Yvonne, they also confirmed the split via Twitter (which is massively modern of them) with Dannii writing, "It brings me great sadness to tell you that Kris and I have separated. We still care for each other and ask for privacy at this difficult time, in particular for our son Ethan who remains our number one priority."

Kris wrote, "Dannii and I have a deep mutual love and respect for each other and although things have not worked out we have a gorgeous son together that we both love and implore everyone to respect our privacy at this challenging time."

The couple were together for four years...although there are some hopeful (but completely unsubstantiated rumours) that they might be getting back together. Go on guys! Give us some good news. The weather's crap, love is dead, and we need some serious cheering up. 

Harry Styles and Caroline Flack

We might have made this picture ourselves

 

Okay, so this one isn't quite so heartbreaking. Put the tissues down. Or don't, whatever.

One Direction's curly headed cherub Harry, broke a squillion hearts when he hooked up with Xtra Factor presenter, Caroline Flack, but then said hearts healed when they split in January. Which is a bit harsh, but we've all heard how angry some 1D Twitter followers can be.

The main thing that got everyone in a twist about this relationship though was the age difference.

Harry Styles was 17 when he and Caz (yeah, we're on Caz-named terms) got together, while she was, um, 32. Yeah, so he couldn't even buy her a drink, which was a bit awkward. But he could look hot while sheepishly sloping out of her front door in the morning, so who cares? Lots of people? Oh.

Mollie King and David Gandy

Mollie's getting off with Prince Harry anyway, so do one, yeah?

Getty

 

The prettiest couple ever (or at least since Brad and Ange) split up in February after nine months together. Ah, look at how good looking they are and admire their shiny teeth! We were gutted. But then David went and said some stuff to Men's Health about their break up that made us love him a little bit less.

He said, "My perfectionism can make it difficult. I know my ex-girlfriend struggled.

"Things have to be perfect - everything in the house, every car I buy. That's incredibly hard to live with if you don't understand it."

Did he mean his girlfriend had to be perfect too? THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS. Quick, let's burn our bras.

He then went onto say how happy he was being single, "I can get on with my own life, my own 'perfections', without needing to explain that weirdness to anyone else.

"If either a relationship or my work must suffer, then I'm afraid it has to be the relationship."

Harsh. And a bit confusing.

Simon Cowell and Mezghan Hussainy

Simon's face here does not say "we're going to get married"

 

Yeah, so this was weird. This relationship actually seemed to fizzle and die last year after they weren't pictured with each other or near each other for yonks - but it was only confirmed in February.

Simon, 52, later admitted that he'd given the 39-year-old make-up artists a £5million house after calling off their engagement "because she deserved it". Nice.

They met in 2002, but only got together officially in 2009. There were lots of reports of blazing rows and his mum was rumoured to not be Mezghan's number 1 fan.

Simon's biographer wrote about their relationship in his book The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell and concluded that she failed to understand the stresses in Simon's life and that he was a rubbish boyfriend.

But hey, at least she got a £5m house, right? RIGHT?

Tulisa and Fazer

Tulisa and Fazer before it all went belly-up

 

Tulisa and her N-Dubz bandmate Fazer were together secretly for yonks, before splitting in January of this year.  

They were together for 18 months, but had known each other since they were 11 so it was a pretty heartbreaking business - but they're still on speaking terms and Fazer even produced a couple of tracks on her last album.

Tulisa has since been voted FHM's Sexiest Woman in the World and dated and split up from Skins actor Jack O'Connell, so we think she's going to be fine.

Lydia Bright and James 'Arg' Argent

This picture sums up EVERYTHING

Eroteme

 

The TOWIE co-stars had been together on-and-off for four years before finally calling time on their tempestuous relationship in January.

Between James and Lydia and Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger, every single relationship scenario ever has been played out live on our telly screens. We were always quietly rooting for these two though as they seemed so genuinely smitten with each other.

Lydia's now happily loved-up with HOT new bloke Tom Kilby and Arg is maybe/maybe not having some naked hugs with co-star Gemma Collins so all's well that ends well. Source:http://www.mirror.co.uk