Martin Freeman splits from partner Amanda Abbington after 16 years

Martin Freeman has split from his longtime partner Amanda Abbington after 16 years.

The Sherlock co-stars, who have two children together, are thought to have separated earlier this year.

Freeman, 45, confirmed the split, saying that he will ‘always love’ the actress and that the break-up was ‘amicable’.

“I’m not with Amanda any more,” he revealed in a new interview with the Financial Times.

“It’s very, very amicable — I’ll always love Amanda,” he added.

Speaking about whether or not success in his career had made him happier, the Hobbit actor said:

“To a certain extent, yes. Not as much as it might have done, and not as much as maybe I would have hoped it had."

Freeman and Abbington met back in 2000 while shooting TV movie Men Only, and are parents to Joe, 10, and Grace, eight.

They have starred together in a number of films and television shows including The Debt, The Robinsons and The Good Night.

They currently play husband and wife in the BBC’s critically-acclaimed Sherlock and both appear in the brand new series.

Speaking about Freeman, Abbington recently said: “He’s one of my favourite actors. I’m biased but it’s true.

“Watching him work is brilliant – every take he does something different. He’s a really good actor and he’s a really good person to have on set because he makes everyone feel relaxed.

“I learned a lot from Martin.”