The Hobbit star Martin Freeman splits from wife of 15 years

The Hobbit star Martin Freeman has revealed he is no longer with long-time partner, and Sherlock, co-star Amanda Abbington.

The 45-year-old actor let the news slip in a recent interview with the Financial Times that he and Amanda, who had been together since 2001, had gone their separate ways.

Martin admitted to the split in a touching way by stating: “I’m not with Amanda any more. It’s very, very amicable – I’ll always love Amanda.”

While the star didn’t directly say what had caused the separation, Martin did hint at the possibility his huge success in recent years on films such as The Hobbit may have played a part in pairs’ break-up.

Martin first met Amanda, 42, in 2000 on the set of the movie Men Only. The couple went on to have a son Joe, 10, and a daughter, Grace, 8.

The pair have worked together on various movies over the years and currently co-star in the television drama hit, Sherlock.

News of the split comes as a surprise as the pair seemed in good form. There was even speculation the pair might have married last December, according to the Daily Mail.

Dropping a casual quip the star suggested: “We might have married already…

“I’m just saying – mind your own business. My job is public, why should my private life be public as well? We live in an age where you have to know everything and that’s tedious.

“If people make a fuss over me I think “Get out more”’.

While the pair has chosen to keep the spotlight off their relationship, Amanda has let more slip about the couple’s private life.

During interviews Amanda revealed contrasting views on where the pair preferred to live saying the actor enjoying busy pace of London, while she preferred the quietness of country town, Hertfordshire.

She admitted: “Martin’s more of a townie, but when I was a kid trips into London would be a real magical thing, and I want ours to have that same feeling.”

“And it helps the family maintain their normal routine.”