Celebrity divorces: The biggest splits in 2016

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
This was perhaps the most shocking divorce to hit celebrity Splitsville this year. Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in September, citing "irreconcilable differences". The Hollywood couple - who met on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith, and have been together since 2004 - married in an intimate ceremony two years ago in their home in France. "I am very saddened by this, but what matters most now is the wellbeing of our kids," Brad released in a statement. "I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time." The couple are parents to six children; Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Vivienne, and Knox.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
The couple called it quits after one year of marriage this year. Amber filed for divorce back in May, and just a few days later requested a temporary restraining order. She claimed that Johnny had been "verbally and physically abusive" towards her throughout their 15-month marriage. The Hollywood star strenuously refuted the allegations. Johnny and Amber, who met on the set of the 2012 movie Rum Diaries, were married on Johnny's private island Little Hall's Pond Cay in the Bahamas in February last year.

Cheryl and Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
In January it was revealed that Cheryl had called time on her relationship with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, officially splitting on their two-year anniversary. In October, the former couple were handed a decree nisi at the Central Family Court in London, with the "quickie divorce" finalised in a matter of minutes. The former X Factor judge married the French businessman in a secret ceremony in Mustique in July 2014 after three months of dating.

James McAvoy and Anne-Marie Duff
May marked the end of James McAvoy and Anne-Marie Duff's nine-year marriage. "It is with tremendous sadness that we have come to the decision to divorce," the couple said in a statement. "We enter this next phase with continued friendship, love and respect for one another and the shared focus of caring for our son." The actors - who played onscreen lovers Steve McBride and Fiona Gallagher in Shameless - tied the knot in 2006 and welcomed their son, Brendan, in 2010.

Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman
In April, Drew Barrymore and her husband of nearly four years Will Kopelman were heading for a divorce. The couple announced the news in a joint statement released on People, and made it clear they were remaining close for the sake of their children Olive, three, and Frankie, one. The statement said: "Sadly our family is separating legally, although we do not feel this takes away from us being a family. Divorce might make one feel like a failure, but eventually you start to find grace in the idea that life goes on. Our children are our universe, and we look forward to living the rest of our lives with them as the first priority."

Mary J Blige and Kendu Isaacs
The singer filed for divorce from her husband and former manager Kendu Isaacs in July. "Ms. Blige is saddened to say it is true that she has filed for divorce, saying sometimes things don't work out how we hoped they would," her publicist Karynne Tencer confirmed in a statement at the time. "But there is a divine plan and a reason for everything." The couple, who were married for 12 years, had no children together, although Mary was a stepmother to Kendu's children from a previous relationship, Briana, Jordan and Nas.

Dennis and Kimberly Quaid
After a tumultuous 12-year marriage, Dennis Quaid and his wife Kimberley called time on their romance. Dennis, 62, confirmed the news to TMZ in June, saying: "After careful consideration, Kimberly and I have decided to end our 12 year marriage. The decision was made amicably and with mutual respect towards one another. We will always remain great friends and devoted partners in raising our children." The pair are parents to twins Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace, who were born via gestational carrier in November 2007.

Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman
The British actress split from her husband, director Len Wiseman - eleven years after the couple said "I do." Although the pair split last year, Len filed for divorce this year. The former lovebirds met on set of Underworld in 2003 – at the time Kate was in an eight-year romance with Sheen, which subsequently ended during the movie's production.