Downton star's Mr Right: How 'besotted' Joanne Froggatt fell in love with sporty new man after heartbreaking divorce as she reveals she's pregnant with her first child at 43

This is the 'Mr Right' who has helped Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt rebuild her life after a heartbreaking divorce.

Friends told how the award-winning actress - who this week revealed she is pregnant with her first child aged 43 - has never been happier since falling for sporty Mark Turner, 45.

Joanne has been showered with congratulations since she announced she is preparing to be a mother for the first time at a star-studded film awards ceremony in London's Leicester Square this week.

Dressed in a red mini dress, Joanne made no attempt to hide her joy as she beamed broadly and rested a comforting hand on her tummy as she posed for pictures before joking: 'It's the bump's first official outing.'

Joanne, who starred as maid Anna Bates in the hit ITV period drama, was left devastated after the breakdown of her eight-year marriage to IT consultant James Cannon, 43, in early 2020.

Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt has found new love with partner Mark Turner three years after heart-breaking split from husband of eight years (pictured, the couple together)

Dressed in a red mini dress, pregnant Joanne beamed as she showed off her bump with her first baby at 43 as she posed for pictures this week at the Into Film Awards 2024

She was left feeling isolated after the split came at the start of the Covid pandemic and families were separated from loved ones by lockdown restrictions.

But MailOnline can reveal she is now starting out in a new chapter in her life with Mark at her side.

A friend told MailOnline: 'She was left heartbroken when she separated from James. 'But since then she has met Mark and has been so happy with him.

'She knew from early on that they had something special together.

'And now her story has a happy ending and she is expecting her first baby.

'She always wanted to be a mother and everyone is delighted for her. Mark, the son of a former police officer, is a lover of the great outdoors who has been photographed with a pet dog and taking part in 10-mile charity runs.

The friend said: 'Joanne had a tough time of it during Covid with the break up of her marriage.

'Mark's moved up from Brighton and is living with Joanne. They seem really happy together.'

The couple were spotted together walking hand in hand with their black dog in the Buckinghamshire countryside in August last year.

Joanne is said to be 'besotted' with her partner Mark (pictured with a friend) who is believed to have sold his home in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, and is living with the Downton Abbey star

Keen runner Mark, 45, is pictured here on social media taking part in the Mid Sussex marathon

Joanne later introduced Mark to her friends and she took him to a party with her group of friends at The Italian Greyhound restaurant in Marylebone, Central London.

While Joanne was said to be 'besotted' by the new man in her life she remained tight-lipped about his identity. Mark's proud dad Ray, 72, confirmed the relationship at the family's smart semi-detached house in a cul-de-sac in upmarket Haywards Heath, Sussex.

Answering the door at the property, where he lives with wife Leslie, 73, he nodded when asked if his son, Mark, was Joanne's partner.

But he declined to answer further questions saying: 'I can't say a word because I'm not allowed to.'

Mark sold his home in the area for £570,000 in September 2021 and is now thought to be living with Joanne.

The happy news comes as Joanne is set to reprise her role in the third Downton Abbey movie which is currently being filmed ahead of a release scheduled for September next year.

She has appeared in all six series of the drama which launched in 2010 along with the first two Downton films in 2019 and 2022.

In 2014, Joanne's portrayal of the character landed her winning a prestigious Golden Globe award for best supporting actress in a series, miniseries or television film.

Mark is pictured playing with his family's couple's dog while sporting a black hoodie, shorts and sunglasses. His father Ray confirmed that his son was in a relationship with Joanne

Friends of Joanne say the the award-winning actress is very happy with Mark (pictured centre with his brother left) - as she prepares to have her first baby

She recently won acclaim starring as Dr Abbey Henderson in the harrowing ITV medical drama Breathtaking which centred on the battles faced by frontline staff trying to save the lives of coronavirus patients, as the virus began to overwhelm the NHS.

Joanne, whose parents ran a corner shop in North Yorkshire, was engaged to DJ Phil Vane at 19, before going on to marry James in 2012.

The couple tied the knot in a private church ceremony in Oxfordshire attended by her fellow Downton Abbey cast members.

In an interview in 2015 she described her marriage to James as 'perfect'.

She added: 'He's passionate about film and theatre, so we have a common interest - and he's not in the business, so it's perfect.'

Together, they ran their own production company called Run After It. The actress now manages the business on her own, and said that being in charge 'feels like an exciting new chapter'.

After their split she said in 2021: 'I didn't think I'd be divorced, I didn't think we'd be going through a pandemic, I didn't think my life would be in flux in the way it was. But I'm OK with that.

'I'm so grateful for my friends and family, for my health and to have been working so much during this past year. You realise, when it comes down to it, how many positives you have in your life.'

But Joanne - who also starred in ITV's thriller series Liar and Angela Black - revealed on a podcast in 2021 that she disliked being asked about whether she has children.

Joanne was said to have been devastated when her eight-year marriage to IT consultant James Cannon (pictured together), 43, collapsed in early 2020 during the Covid pandemic

Speaking on the Reign With Josh Smith Podcast, she said: 'From the age of about 38, 37, whenever I've been doing publicity for my work or anything else, I've been constantly asked if I'm going to have children.

'When are you having children? Or how are you feeling about turning 40?'.'

She said that her male counterparts in the industry were never asked the same question.

Since announcing her happy news, Joanne's Instagram page has been flooding with heart-warming messages from followers. After she posted an image of herself wearing her outfit on the night which she described as a 'bespoke dress of joy!', fellow Downton star Amy Nuttall wrote gushingly: 'I could not be happier for you!!! You look beautiful.'

Joanne replied to the message with four red love hearts and wrote: Thank you my angel!'

Actress and Strictly Come Dancing winner Jill Halfpenny wrote: 'Jo!!!!! You look radiant and beautiful and I'm so happy for you.' Ends

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