Billie Piper and Laurence Fox have officially ended their eight year marriage. The couple, who shocked fans when they announced their split in March, were granted a decree nisi at London Central Family Court on Thursday.Billie, 33, had filed for divorce on the grounds that her marriage to the 37-year-old actor had "irretrievably broken down". A judge took just 50 seconds to grant her request.

Billie Piper and Laurence Fox have been granted a decree nisi

The couple are parents to two children together, sons Winston, seven, and four-year-old Eugene. They got together when they starred in a play called in 2006, and were married at the 12th century parish church of St Mary's in Eastbourne, near the family home, on New Year's Eve in 2007.Laurence - a member of the Fox acting dynasty, which includes his uncle Edward Fox and cousins Emilia Fox and Freddie Fox – had previously said that it was "love at first sight" when he first met Billie.

The couple announced their split in March

"It absolutely happened when I met Bill. We were in a rehearsal room and I knew there and then she was the one for me", he said in 2010.Billie and Laurence, who lived with their children in the market town of Midhurst, announced their split on his Facebook page in March of this year. The brief statement read: "Laurence Fox and Billie Piper have separated. No third parties are involved.

Billie and Laurence were married for eight years and have two sons

"For the sake of our family we request and appeal for space and privacy at this time. "Billie was previously married to host Chris Evans. Their relationship was considered controversial at the time; she was just 19 when they tied the knot after a whirlwind six-month romance, while Chris was 35. They split in 2004 and were divorced in 2007, but have remained good friends.

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