Tessa Peake-Jones and Hodge split (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Tessa Peake-Jones and Hodge split

2:15pm Wednesday 6th February 2013 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Holby City and Only Fools And Horses actress Tessa Peake-Jones has separated from her actor partner Douglas Hodge after 27 years.

The pair, who have a son and a daughter, parted by "amicable agreement", a spokesman has confirmed.

Douglas will soon be seen in Sam Mendes' forthcoming musical adaptation of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, playing Willy Wonka.

Tessa is known to millions of viewers for her role as Raquel, the girlfriend of Derek Trotter, in long-running BBC One sitcom Only Fools.

The 55-year-old is currently appearing in Holby City as hospital boss Imelda Cousins.

Douglas, 52, has been prominent mainly on stage, winning Olivier and Tony Awards, but has appeared in TV shows such as Red Caps, Spooks and the ITV adaptation of Mansfield Park. He also played Raquel's son Damien Trotter in an episode of Only Fools And Horses.

A spokesman for the pair said: "I'm able to confirm that Tessa and Douglas separated in the autumn of last year by mutual and amicable agreement and they will continue to raise their two children jointly."

Sam's production of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory is to be given its world premiere at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on June 25.