Sad news – it is being widely reported that Ellie Goulding and Dougie Poynter have ended their relationship because of their busy work schedules. The couple, who have been together for 18 months now, are thought to be taking a break from each other after hitting a "rough patch" and deciding to spend some time apart.An insider told the Mirror: "They are taking a break, their work commitments have meant they have been spending more and more time away from each other and it has made it difficult to maintain their relationship.
© Photo: Getty ImagesEllie Goulding and Dougie Poynter have reportedly decided to take a break
"They've decided to have a temporary break to see if they can work things out. "The source added: "They are both very sad that things have hit a rough patch, but are trying to see if a little distance can help them get through it. "Ellie has been busy on the promotional trail touring the US and Europe with her new album, Delirium, while McFly bassist Dougie has been working on his modelling career in LA.Perhaps most tellingly, Dougie celebrated his 28th birthday on Sunday, and Ellie didn't send him a message on Instagram or Twitter to mark the occasion.
The couple have been together for 18 months
News of a split will come as a big shock to fans of the couple, who were rumoured to have been discussing marriage just last month.Back in September, Ellie told Glamour magazine she was ready to settle down and tie the knot. "I'm nearly 30. I once had a pretty warped view of marriage because so many people around me had divorced parents," she admitted. "So for a long time I did think I'd never get married…"But when someone comes along and re-establishes that trust, then it's nice to think of doing everything the traditional way: having a church wedding, with all my family in one place – I love the idea of that."
