Jo Wood: 'I'm glad Ronnie left me'

Jo Wood has revealed that she is thankful to Ekaterina Ivanova for running off with her husband Ronnie in 2008.

The former model explained that she got her life back when the Rolling Stones guitarist eloped with the Big Brother housemate, who is 41 years his junior.

The 55-year-old told Hello: "How do I feel about the girl he went off with? She did me a favour. She gave me my life back.

"My life had been all about looking after Ronnie. I was with him for 31 years and married to him for 24. I can't remember what it was like being his wife anymore. I gave up my life for Ronnie, now I have it back, I can put my energy into myself instead of him."

Jo's 36-year-old son Jamie, who is from her first marriage, confessed that he only became aware of what Ronnie was like after he left their home.

He said: "I only realised what he was like when he left. Mum had always hidden it from us. For the first six months I was badly upset, but now I understand he's not in the real world. He blunders through life unaware."

Since their separation, Jo has divorced Ronnie, while the 63-year-old musician is now in a relationship with Brazilian Ana Araujo.