EXCLUSIVE: Shetland star Ashley Jensen secretly ties the knot

It has been six years since a ‘devastated’ Ashley Jensen confronted the horrible tragedy of shedding her husband to suicide.

But the actress, who’s at the moment starring as DI Ruth Calder in BBC drama Shetland, has discovered new happiness – and secretly tied the knot along with her long-term beau.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal the star, 54, married fellow actor Kenny Doughty in a ‘tremendous enjoyable’ and emotional ceremony in entrance of an in depth group of household and associates on the historic Priston Mill close to Bath.

Friends say Ms Jensen, who made her identify as Ricky Gervais‘ sidekick Maggie in Extras and in US sitcom Ugly Betty, ‘barely stopped smiling all day’ and wore a shocking off-white robe with floral embroidery paired with coral platform sandals.

Former Vera star Doughty, 48, who met the actress on the set of 2017 BBC drama Love, Lies And Records additionally beamed all through the August 9 ceremony whereas wearing a powder-blue swimsuit with matching suede loafers.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal the Jensen, 54, married fellow actor Kenny Doughty in a ‘tremendous enjoyable’ and emotional ceremony. Pictured: Jensen and Doughty in January 

It has been six years since a ‘devastated’ Ashley Jensen confronted the horrible tragedy of shedding her husband, Terence Beesley, to suicide. Pictured: The pair collectively in 2016

‘The day seemed completely stunning,’ a pal mentioned. ‘Ashley seemed simply so, so blissful. She was smiling and laughing, it was merely idyllic. There seemed to be a lot love in that room.’ 

The pair had been joined by Ashley’s son Francis, 14, from her marriage to late husband Terence Beesley, who wore a floral tie that matched the one worn by Mr Doughty.

‘There was a really candy second when Francis posed for footage with Ashley and Kenny,’ the pal added. ‘It was lovable.’

Ms Jensen prompted hypothesis that she had develop into engaged to Mr Doughty after she was seen carrying a hoop – and trying to cowl her left hand – on The Graham Norton Show earlier this month.

Neither has publicly spoken about or confirmed their relationship, however it’s understood it started as a friendship earlier than blossoming into romance. 

The couple have been photographed collectively at showbusiness occasions, and had been noticed holding palms whereas having fun with an evening out collectively in Bath in 2021.

A supply mentioned: ‘He has been an immense help to her up to now few years. They make a stunning couple, and all their associates are completely delighted for them.’

Their wedding ceremony was all of the extra poignant given the grief confronted by Ms Jensen – who starred once more alongside Ricky Gervais in his award-winning After Life, a tragi-comic portrait of a person struggling to manage within the aftermath of his spouse’s demise from breast most cancers. 

Jensen and Doughty are pictured right here in Love, Lies & Records

Ashley appeared on The Graham Norton Show carrying a hoop on her wedding ceremony finger

It was in November 2017 that The Bill and EastEnders actor Terence Beesley, Jensen’s companion of 18 years whom she had married in 2007, took his personal life within the residence they shared with their son in Somerset.

He was 60. Ms Jensen discovered his physique within the household’s Mercedes after she returned from a day trip with Francis, then eight. 

She instructed an inquest the next yr: ‘Terry and I had been collectively for 18 years, however I had no thought he was able to what he did.’ The couple had met in 1999 and married in California earlier than transferring again to the UK.

Yorkshire-born Mr Doughty was married to the English actress Caroline Carver for 11 years till they divorced in 2017.

• **If you could converse to somebody, you possibly can name the Samaritans without cost on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org**