Sulvinder Samra, the former wife of Dr Ranj Singh, has shared her emotional journey through their tumultuous relationship and the painful aftermath of their divorce. The TV personality, known for his appearances on shows like This Morning and Lorraine, was married to Sulvinder for seven years before they separated in 2011. Their split came after Dr Ranj revealed he was gay in 2009, a revelation that deeply affected both of them.
Sulvinder, who once starred on Strictly Come Dancing, has reflected on how she tried to move forward after the divorce by embracing new experiences such as traveling, partying, and buying a home. However, she struggled with the lingering pain of her past, finding it difficult to trust others or herself due to the challenges of her failed marriage.
On Instagram, Sulvinder shared a slideshow of photos, including those from her wedding day, and opened up about her feelings of inadequacy. She admitted she believed she “wouldn’t be a good mum” and that she “did not deserve happiness” after being single again. “On the outside, I was pretending,” she wrote. “I looked fine but I felt dead inside because I’m not good enough.”
She explained that it wasn’t until three years ago that she began to feel better about herself, taking steps to face her fears and challenge her shame. Sulvinder emphasized that “you get to choose what your story is going to be… no one else,” and she never wanted her ex-husband’s coming out to define her narrative.
Sulvinder shared more about her upbringing, describing a strict environment where she was expected to set a good example, pursue a good education, and marry an Indian man. “It was a strict upbringing and the responsibility felt heavy,” she said. She saw university as an escape, eventually graduating and working as a pharmacist. She met her future husband and started married life, though it wasn’t easy.
“Married life was not easy and then the cracks started to show. What I will say is there is not a lonelier feeling than feeling alone in a marriage,” she added. She described how both she and Dr Ranj were hurting when their marriage ended, with divorce being the only option. “I mourned. It was heavy because the future I thought I had was gone and the person that I thought I had married was gone as well.”
Sulvinder went through a period of self-doubt, feeling “extremely unattractive” and retreating back to her family home for safety. At 45, she questioned her future, asking, “Is this what my life is going to be?” She realized she had no balance, with all her focus on work, leading to misery.
She decided to quit her job, start a business, and work on changing old beliefs. Sulvinder met Dr Ranj after he qualified in 2003, and they married in a traditional Sikh ceremony in 2006. Dr Ranj came out at age 30, having previously told his wife he loved her, making the separation especially heartbreaking.
“I was completely broken. It was the lowest point in my life,” Dr Ranj said in a 2018 interview. He acknowledged that his wife didn’t deserve the pain and expressed deep regret for what she went through.
Today, Dr Ranj is open about his sexuality and has spoken about his marriage to Sulvinder again this week. Despite having a successful career and marriage, he admitted he wasn’t “100% happy.” After going to therapy, he addressed his suppressed feelings, which led to the breakdown of what he believed was a “perfect life.”
Dr Ranj came out to his brothers in a “beautiful moment” 10 years before he felt ready to tell his parents. In 2024, he shared that he was scared of their reactions. “I braced myself for the worst, but what followed was beyond my wildest dreams. ‘We love you, no matter what,’ Dad said softly. My mum, though visibly shaken, nodded in agreement.”
He described his parents’ unconditional acceptance as “everything [he] had ever needed.” Last year, he publicly confirmed his relationship with James Colebrook, sharing pictures and videos together on Instagram. The couple often appears together at red carpet events.
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