Most celebrities follow a familiar pattern: a rise to fame often followed by family troubles. But Lauren Thundow’s story veers from the typical narrative.
While maintaining a positive public image as a delightful TV star, Lauren’s personal life didn’t spiral into family issues. Instead, she stepped into the life of professional snooker player Stephen Hendry and inadvertently disrupted his marriage to Mandy Hendry. Capturing the attention of a snooker legend, she effortlessly won Stephen Hendry’s heart, but her presence shattered the tranquility of an otherwise peaceful home.
To Stephen’s fans, Lauren’s image shifted dramatically from admirable to detrimental, as she was seen to cause unrest in Mandy’s home. Amanda (Mandy) was left in disbelief as her husband abandoned their family to pursue a relationship with a minor actress and entertainer who was 20 years his junior.
Lauren’s story became public due to her romantic involvement with Stephen.
Despite following her heart, she experienced various aspects of life that shaped her journey to success—interested in knowing more? Continue reading.
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Lauren Thundow Early Life
Even though she was a TV reporter, Lauren’s personal life didn’t draw much attention. It’s ironic that a reporter, whose job is to uncover and share stories, managed to keep her own life private. But that changed when she met Stephen Hendry.
Lauren Thundow was born in 1991 to an English family. She lived a life away from the spotlight. She showed a strong interest in education in British society, reflected in her career choice. Like any dedicated person, Lauren did everything she could to succeed in her field. She is 35 years old.
When she became a TV reporter, she was driven by a passion for gathering information. With an unending curiosity, she chased after stories, motivated by her wish to discover and share knowledge with others. This wasn’t the high point of her career, but it set the stage for her future ambitions.
Lauren Thundow Marital Status and Controversy
Lauren Thundow fell in love with Stephen Hendry, a well-known snooker player and seven-time World Champion. Their story began by chance at a Legends snooker exhibition. At that time, Lauren was living with her parents near the military base in Sandhurst, Berkshire, selling merchandise at the event. Stephen, who was participating in the exhibition, met her there. Even though he was not the type to fall in love at first sight, something about Lauren was different.
Their relationship developed gradually from there. The same event that brought them together ended up causing the end of Stephen’s long marriage to Mandy Hendry.
Mandy, too, was involved in the entertainment industry. Stephen met her at a Pontin’s camp in Wales when he was only 16. They married 11 years after meeting in 1995 at the Muthill Parish Church in Perthshire. Their marriage lasted 19 years, resulting in two sons, Blaine and Carter.
However, Stephen’s feelings for Mandy changed. He became dissatisfied with their relationship and started to long for Lauren. After meeting Lauren, he left his marriage, which prompted a divorce.
Stephen’s retirement from professional snooker in 2012 sparked changes in his personal life. Mandy, his wife, had anticipated their family would grow closer, with Stephen being more present at home. However, she was faced with a harsh reality that left her heartbroken. Stephen began to distance himself from his family, which raised Mandy’s suspicions.
The family took a holiday to Portugal in the summer of 2013 to mend their marriage. Despite their efforts to enjoy the vacation, the underlying issues in their marriage remained a constant presence. Following their unsuccessful attempt to rekindle their relationship, Stephen moved to Liverpool in January 2014. Later that same year, Mandy filed for divorce. The divorce settlement was a six-figure sum, granting Mandy custody of their children and their family home ownership. In his autobiography, Stephen said he felt guilty leaving his wife of 19 years for a woman 20 years younger.
Stephen is now living happily with Lauren Thundow. He lost to Lauren’s nephew, James Cahill, during the 2023 World Snooker Championship.
Lauren Thundow Career
Lauren spent her life in front of a camera as a TV reporter, a small-time actress in Fifi and the Flowertots, and a robot in the stage show Noddy In Toyland in 2009. She kept her personal life private until her affair became public.
On the other hand, Stephen had a highly successful career as a snooker player. For 27 years, he was a dominant force in the snooker world, winning the world championship seven times. Stephen was born on January 13th, 1969, in South Queensferry, Edinburgh, and raised in Gorgie, Edinburgh, then Dalgety Bay, Fife. He attended Inverkeithing High School, followed by Queensferry High School. He became a professional snooker player at 16, and by his third season, he was ranked fourth in the country.
His desire for excellence helped him win his first World Snooker Championship in 1990 at 21. He continued to win several world titles from 1990 to 1999, creating a record that lasted until 2022, when Ronnie O’Sullivan broke it.
While Stephen’s career was steady and successful, his personal life was not. He often made impulsive decisions about his relationships, not seeming to care about their impacts, such as when his ex-wife had to sell their family home in Auchterarder and keep the proceeds as part of their divorce settlement. His behavior showed him to be a person willing to pursue an idea or feeling, regardless of the consequences.
Meanwhile, Lauren’s life was filled with various events, ranging from the quiet days of her childhood to the times that made her a public figure. Despite being more reserved, she became known for her relationship with Stephen.
Hot: Lauren was around six years old when Stephen first married Mandy. A similar scenario can be found in the life of Sammy Hagar, who married his first wife, Betsy Berardi, one year and nine months after his second wife, Kari Hagar, was born. I may not understand the root cause of why a man would leave his wife for a younger woman, but this article gives insights.
Lauren Thundow Net worth
Lauren Thundow had lived a relatively private life, staying out of the limelight and enjoying the quiet of her anonymous existence. She didn’t reveal much about her career or income. On the other hand, Stephen Hendry has made a lot of money.
As one of the top snooker players globally, Hendry managed to earn around 32.4 million USD from his time as a professional player and later as a snooker commentator.
Where is Lauren Thundow Now?
Lauren is with Stephen now, consciously staying out of the media while living her best life in Sunningdale. Although living with a millionaire snooker player, Lauren has taken up a menial job.
She has been seen carrying cleaning supplies and a vacuum cleaner near upscale Ascot, Berkshire. According to a source, she and an older woman from the area clean three or four flats. They advertise their cleaning services in the local press for £9 an hour.