Petula Clark's husband Claude Wolff dies aged 93 following a short illness as singer says she is 'overwhelmed with sadness' - after they stayed married and continued living together despite splitting in the eighties
Petula Clark's husband Claude Wolff has died aged 93 following a short illness.
The British singer, 91, announced the news on her social media page on Wednesday as she admitted she was 'lost for words' to describe how she was feeling.
Petula wrote: 'Our hearts are heavy. This afternoon - Claude, my husband of so many amazing years - passed away - leaving us lost for words to describe this awful emotion - grief.
'Thank you my lovely children, and friends, for giving me strength to get through this overwhelming sadness. Peace be with you chéri. R.I.P. Claude Wolff (1931-2024).'
Petula's Facebook post was flooded with messages of sympathy in the comments section, as friends and fans sent their condolences to the star.
Petula Clark's husband Claude Wolff has died aged 93 following a short illness
The British singer, 91, announced the news on her social media page on Wednesday as she admitted she was 'lost for words' to describe how she was feeling (pictured together)
Petula shares three children with Claude, two daughters named Barbara and Katherine and a son named Patrick, 52
The actor and producer was known for his work in the movie industry and collaborated on several projects with his estranged wife.
Petula and Claude met in the fifties and stayed together for three decades before parting romantically but remaining married until his death.
The former couple met at the Vogue label during a meeting to discuss Petula's contact in Paris in 1957, where Claude was 'immediately attracted' to Petula.
Following the meeting, Petula was told that Claude would work with her if she recorded in French and she agreed.
They collaborated on 1968 film Petula where Claude worked as a producer and Here's Lucy, which was filmed in the same year, where he was an actor.
Petula, who shares three children with Claude, spoke to the Loose Women about their unusual arrangement during an appearance in 2016.
She said: 'We're still married. Claude is the father of our wonderful children.
'We still live together but he has his own life and I have mine and it somehow works.'
Petula wrote: 'Our hearts are heavy. This afternoon - Claude, my husband of so many amazing years - passed away - leaving us lost for words to describe this awful emotion - grief'
The couple pictured on their wedding day in June 1961
'These things are difficult to talk about in public, but it works.'
As of 2012, Petula and Claude lived together in Switzerland. They are parents to their son Patrick, 52, and their two daughters Barbara and Katherine.
Despite her arrangement with Claude, Petula went on to find love again, although she admitted it wasn't a 'lightbulb' moment like it was with Claude.
She told the Loose Women panel: 'There is someone and it's very nice and Claude knows about it. There's no secret.'
'We became friends first and the romantic side happened later. I think that's pretty good too, because it's not a frantic passion thing. It's good to be friends with your man!'
Speaking to The Daily Mail in 2016, Petula said of her husband: 'He's in Geneva and I'll see him when I go back. It's funny. Life does these things to us.
'Of course, it's painful to think something that was so wonderful had changed but he has his life and I have mine. We had three wonderful children together and we love each other very much.
'It's just different now. It's perhaps not perfect but we make the most of it.'
They went their separate ways in the 1980s and remained close ever since and never divorced. Claude also found a new partner but they remained tight lipped about the identities of their new loves.
As of 2012, Petula and Claude lived together in Switzerland. They are parents to their son Patrick, 52, and their two daughters Barbara and Katherine (pictured in 2001)
They went their separate ways in the 1980s and remained close ever since and never divorced
Petula Clark in the mountains with her husband Claude and their children Barbara and Patrick in December 1976
During an interview with the Daily Mail in 2013, Petula said she believed her busy career 'stopped her from being a good mother.
She said: 'I wasn't a good mother because I was away so much. I tried hard to be the perfect mother, the perfect wife and a great performer.
'I thought I could do it all but it can't be done. Sorry, but it just can't. I had a good stab at it, but being a parent and married is a full-time job.'
Talking about leaving her children to perform, she said: 'Emotionally, it was a real wrench every time I had to leave, and I think the whole sad business of saying goodbye to each other so often stayed with the children for many years.
'I always rushed back home whenever I could and turned down a lot of offers of work so I could be with them, but I still had to make a living.
'Whatever I may have got wrong then, I hope I've managed to put right since.'Petula first stepped on stage at the age of six and grew up to become one of the most successful British female recording artists in history, with more than 68million records sold worldwide and a string of number one hits including I Know A Place.'
