Janet Street Porter has opened up about the deeply emotional and heartbreaking reason she chose to keep her wedding a secret — revealing she was left “a complete state” and physically shaking with nerves as she tied the knot for the fifth time last month.
The Loose Women panellist, 79, made the candid confession during Tuesday’s episode of the ITV show, finally explaining why she and her partner of 26 years, Peter Stanton, quietly married away from the spotlight.
After four previous marriages — and one she now describes as a devastating mistake — Janet admitted the fear of repeating past pain almost overwhelmed her on the eve of the ceremony.
“I was nervous. I got myself into a complete state the day before. I was shaking,” she told viewers.
“I’d messed up the last one. That was a really, really bad mistake. It was bad for my friends. It was bad for me. I don’t know about him — but it was horrible, horrible, stupid. And I didn’t want to do that again.”
Why This Wedding Had to Be Different
Janet has never shied away from discussing her turbulent romantic history, but this time, the stakes felt higher than ever. Not only was it her fifth marriage — it was Peter’s first.
That reality, she admitted, added a whole new layer of pressure.
“I didn’t want to do anything embarrassing that I would regret,” she explained. “I didn’t want to make fun of Peter. I wanted it to be lovely for him, because he hasn’t been married before. He’s managed to avoid it.”
Determined to protect the moment — and herself — Janet opted for a low-key, almost hidden ceremony. Only two nearby friends were initially asked to act as witnesses, with another two joining at the last minute.
A Detail That Still Hurts
Another unexpected source of anxiety was paperwork — specifically the fact that Janet had to marry using her last married name, something she admitted still deeply upsets her.
“I had to be married in my last married name,” she revealed. “I don’t really want to say it on air, because it still upsets me so much. But nobody spotted it.”
Despite the emotional build-up, the ceremony itself turned out to be refreshingly simple.
“When we got to the registry office, there was no one there in the car park. It was brilliant. It was empty,” she recalled.
“We went in and there was this great big room with chairs for like 100 people. It was all over in 10 minutes. We are absolutely thrilled.”
‘I Saved the Best Till Last’
Janet first revealed her surprise marriage during last Monday’s Loose Women, sharing the news via video link alongside her husband — and beaming as she did so.
“Hi everyone, I’ve been keeping a big secret,” she announced. “It’s my big news for everyone watching… Peter and me got married on Saturday. So there you are. I finally did it. I saved the best till last.”
The couple have been together since 1999, quietly building a life away from the drama that marked many of Janet’s earlier relationships.
A Look Back at Janet’s Marriages
Janet’s first marriage was to Tim Street-Porter in 1967, ending in 1975. That same year, she married English publisher Tony Elliot, though the marriage lasted just two years.
Her third husband was Canadian documentary filmmaker Frank Cvitanovich, whom she married in 1979 before divorcing in 1981. Her fourth marriage, to David Sorkin, ran from 1997 to 1999 — a relationship she now openly admits caused significant harm.
Reflecting on her romantic past, Janet once told The Guardian that her experiences gave her a sharp understanding of men.
“I’ve been married four times and lived with a lot of blokes — I know how men’s minds work,” she said. “They’re all pathetically grateful.”
Life on Her Own Terms
Janet has also spoken openly about never having children, previously writing in The Independent that she does not feel she missed out on motherhood.
“There’s no stigma in not having children,” she wrote. “I wouldn’t swap a smart man for a toddler or a goldfish.”
Now, after decades of heartbreak, reflection, and resilience, Janet says she has finally found peace — and love — on her own terms.
And this time, she made sure nothing could spoil it.
