EXCLUSIVE: Matt LeBlanc put the brakes on six-year relationship with Top Gear producer Aurora Mulligan ‘over a year ago’ as star confirms split after romance ‘ran its course’
Matt LeBlanc’s six-year relationship with Top Gear producer Aurora Mulligan came to a mutual end in 2020, long before their separation was publicly announced.
The former Friends star, 54, worked with television producer Aurora, 37, on the long-running BBC show after he was drafted in to revive its ailing fortunes in 2016, before walking away three-years later.
Sources have since confirmed the couple quietly drew a line under the relationship months ago.
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘They haven’t been together in over a year.’
End of the road: Matt LeBlanc, 54, has reportedly split with his British partner Aurora Mulligan, 37, after nearly six years together
A separate source told The Sun: ‘Matt and Aurora’s relationship has run its course. It’s all over. It’s a huge shame and Matt has taken the news particularly hard, as anyone would.
‘He and Aurora fell for each on Top Gear and although there was a pretty big age gap they were a really great match.
‘But when he announced he was leaving Top Gear and took on other work, it was hard for them. He’s mainly based out of LA and was travelling a lot while Aurora was working in the UK.’
Looking back: The former Friends star worked with television producer Aurora on Top Gear when he appeared on the show from 2016 to 2019 (pictured in 2017)
The couple were first linked in May 2016 when onlookers said they looked ‘besotted’ as they attended the Hickstead Derby in West Sussex in June that year.
They walked the red carpet together at the New York film festival in 2017 and made their first appearance as an official couple at the UK launch of Top Gear’s 25th series in 2018.
Born in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, the pretty brunette studied politics, political science and government at Liverpool University before launching a successful career in TV production.
After stints at ITV and Channel 5, she eventually settled at BBC in July 2015 as assistant producer on Top Gear, shortly after former host Jeremy Clarkson left.
Aurora is believed to have met Matt in early 2016, shortly before he was announced as one of the show’s new producers in February.
She was not the first European woman to have caught his eye; he was married to British model Melissa McKnight for three years, with whom he has a daughter, Marina.
Fame game: Matt rose to prominence as Friends character Joey Tribbiani (pictured with Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow in 2021)
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