Former Real Housewives of Jersey star Tessa Hartmann has shared the devastating news that her husband, artist Sascha Hartmann, has died after almost 30 years of marriage. The couple are parents to four children including the singer and presenter Tallia Storm.
Tessa appeared on both series of The Real Housewives of Jersey when it aired on ITVBe from 2020 to 2022. Tessa announced she would depart the show after its second run, but a third was never made.
Posting to Instagram this evening (25 June), she shared photos of Sascha with her and the rest of her family, writing: "Sometimes there are words that you never imagine, in your entire lifetime, you will have to write.
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"Yesterday, my darling husband, Sascha, the devoted father of our incredible children, Valentina, Tallia, Johnnie and Zachary - passed away suddenly in Lugano, Switzerland."
Adding that they had only moved to Lugano at the end of last year, she paid tribute to Sascha as "one of a kind" and "gifted beyond words". "This August we were meant to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. Instead, I am organising his funeral," she added.
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"The past 24 hours have passed in a blur. We are utterly shattered. Broken beyond anything I could ever have imagined. I ask, if you are able, to keep our family in your prayers as we try to find the strength to face the days ahead."
"Sascha, we loved every single part of you. Your kindness. Your laughter. Your humour. Your remarkable mind. Your music. Your beautiful piano playing. We will keep playing your songs, telling your stories, and carrying your love with us for the rest of our lives."
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Tallia commented: "My heart is broken. I can not understand any of this. Our world has shattered and will never be the same. My amazing Dad. You were our world & you will continue to be forever.
"I am in shock, please pray for my family. Please pray for my precious mum. I have never felt a pain like this in my life. My amazing amazing selfless, kind, caring Dad. My hero."
Tributes have come in from the likes of Alesha Dixon, who said her "heart breaks for the whole family", and Gabby Logan, who said: "What a cruel thing, that such a superb, funny, clever, supportive and talented man has been whipped away far too soon."
Nile Rodgers called Sascha a "true genius", while Nicole Appleton said she is "so so sorry".
Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online, specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who'll listen.
