Alesha Dixon relaxed at a spa retreat for her step mother’s birthday over the weekend as news of her shock split from her partner of 18 years, Azuka Ononye emerged. 

The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 46, treated her step mother with a trip to Champneys in Tring for a lovely birthday and enjoyed a facial. 

She posed with her sister Leyanne and their ‘step mama’, dressed in cosy matching white dressing gowns. 

Taking to Instagram, Alesha wrote: ‘Thank you @champneysspas for looking after my step mama so well! She had a lovely birthday.’ 

Alesha is yet to formally address her reported separation and instead uploaded a video on Instagram on Wednesday to reveal she was taking her two daughters, Azura, 10, and Anaya, four, whom she shares with Azuka, to Lapland UK. 

Sharing the card written to Anaya from Father Christmas by the tree, she wrote: ‘Girls are so excited!’.

Alesha Dixon relaxed at a spa retreat for her step mother’s birthday over the weekend as news of her shock split from her partner of 18 years, Azuka Ononye emerged

Alesha and Azula made their last joint red carpet appearance in July 2023 at Stormzy ‘s star-studded 30th birthday and have not appeared on each other’s social media (pictured 2022) 

Lapland UK, in Ascot, Berkshire, is the biggest festive attraction of its kind in Europe and has drawn famous faces including the Beckhams and the Prince and Princess of Wales.  

Alesha and Azula made their last joint red carpet appearance in July 2023 at Stormzy’s star-studded 30th birthday and have not appeared on each other’s social media in recent months. 

The singer is said to have confided in pals the couple’s relationship became ‘more of a friendship’ before going their separate ways. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Alesha’s been quietly telling people close to her that she believes their relationship is over and they’re going to separate’.

‘She and Azuka have been together almost two decades but their relationship has become more like a friendship.

‘They’re devoted parents to their girls, who are 11 and six, and want to focus on keeping their relationship as amicable as possible for their sake.’

According to the publication the couple both attended rapper Nas’ concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall in November, but went separately and sat at opposite sides of the venue. 

Azuka also attended Wicked’s London premiere with eldest daughter Azura last week, with no Alesha in sight. 

Alesha is yet to formally address her reported separation and instead revealed she was taking her two daughters, Azura, 10, and Anaya, four, whom she shares with Azuka, to Lapland

Alesha first met Azuka in 2006. He worked as a former Mis-Teeq back up dancer before being hired as her creative director. Harvey (pictured 2014)

MailOnline have contacted Alesha’s representatives for comment. 

Read More Alesha Dixon ‘in shock split from partner Azuka Ononye after 18-years’

The couple were rumoured to have secretly married in 2017 and she introduced him as her ‘lovely husband’ during an appearance Michael McIntyre’s Big Show Christmas Special in December 2017, however neither have confirmed if a wedding took place. 

They first met in 2006 following Alesha’s one year marriage So Solid Crew rapper MC Harvey, following his affair with fellow singer Javine Hylton.

Azuka first worked as a former Mis-Teeq back up dancer before being hired as her creative director. 

Speaking about the relationship on The Jonathan Ross Show in 2018, she admitted playing ‘hard to get for about a year’.

‘He was sleeping on the floor because I was on the couch, I couldn’t even get up the stairs. If he can carry me to the toilet then he’s a keeper.’  

She said: ‘Then I had the foot operation and I couldn’t walk and he was literally sleeping on the floor looking after me every day. I was just looking at him thinking, ‘That is for better or for worse isn’t it?’ I looked a state,’

Alesha gushed over Azuka again during a 2014 appearance on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories and said she could ‘authentically be herself’ when she was with him.

‘I don’t have to be anything other than who I am and it’s a great feeling when you can just be yourself with someone. And it’s like being with my best friend every day’.

Meanwhile speaking about their family she told Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum podcast in 2020: ‘[Azuka] was the first person that I’d met, that I knew that we could have children together because of our values, our morals, our thinking aligned’. 

And later told HELLO! in 2022:  ‘If you choose to have children, you are their first introduction to the world, I make a very conscious effort that my daughters have a very loving, supportive home with two parents who are great role models. I feel a sense of responsibility.’