Real Housewives star 'devastated' as ex-husband rushed to hospital with major illness

The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Ampika Pickston has revealed to her fans that her former husband, Mark Pickston, was hospitalised for a week with pneumonia

The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Ampika Pickston has revealed that her ex-husband has spent a week in hospital battling pneumonia.

The 43-year-old reality star was married to multimillionaire businessman Mark Pickston, 58, when she was in her twenties. They welcomed a son named Jake together and divorced when Ampika was 30, but have remained close and appeared in the ITVBe series together.

On Sunday, Ampika revealed her ex-husband had been spending time in hospital - and expressed her joy at the fact he is on the road to recovery. Sharing a number of images on her Instagram grid, the star wrote: "Welcome to my week, Mrs [Fox] getting cheeky! Ex hubby had a week in hospital with pneumonia. I didn’t know it’s contagious. Thank the lord above he is home and on the mend," - adding praying hands emoiji.

Sharing more images, she continued: "My team from @ampikasaesthetics works night out @louisrestaurants. Last but not least I wanted to spoil @lystraadams and @tanyabardsley7 with some presents." Reflecting on the fact that she was shaken by Mark's health battle, she added: "Just remember how important you are to each other . I was devastated when my ex took ill. Made me realise through all the petty squabbles and differences that we have had, I will always be there for him as he still means the world to me."

Fans and followers took to the comments section to with Mark a speedy recovery, with one writing: "hope he gets better soon." And another commented that they too would be shaken by a serious health issue affecting an ex, writing: "me and my ex hubby are still friends and I agree if he fell poorly it would hurt me too. Have a fabulous Christmas beautiful."

Ampika featured on The Real Housewives of Cheshire from 2015 until 2017 - and returned for the recent seventeenth season in a guest role. She is currently engaged to David Sullivan, 75, since 2021 after the billionaire West Ham chairman got down on one knee on her birthday after a few months of dating - and after being friends for a decade.

A source told The Sun in the wake of news of the engagement: "There’s a big age gap but they are smitten. They’ve kept quiet out of respect for their children and ex-partners but know they can’t keep a lid on this forever. David handed over a beautiful, 11½ carat, emerald-cut engagement ring. She said yes straightaway."

Before popping the question to Ampika, David had been romantically involved with former porn star Emma Benton-Hughes - who he was in a relationship with for 25 years. She starred in erotic titles such as Lesbian Nurses and Naked Neighbours - and was made co-chairman at West Ham by David before their split. The couple share two children together with sons David and Jack.

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