Happy Valley star James Norton has reportedly split from his partner, Imogen Poots, after six years together.

James, 38, has been in the running to take over the coveted Bond role for several years and just starred in the Bob Marley biopic One Love.

His busy schedule seems to have caused the couple to drift as Imogen is also an actor, recently filming in New Mexico with Josh Brolin.

The 34-year-old has now headed to Northamptonshire to film the new adaptation of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.

The couple, who lived together in East London, were ‘growing apart’ over Christmas and have decided to part ways as reported in the MailOnline.

James and Imogen had originally met during a run of the play Belleville at the Donmar Warehouse in 2017, making their public debut the following year.

The stars were said to have drifted apart over Christmas
It was then in 2022 that the Grantchester star got on one knee and popped the question.

However, it was speculated they may have parted ways as Imogen did not join her fiance at either of the One Love premieres; London, Los Angeles, or Jamaica.

In fact, it was on the opening night of A Little Life – an adaptation of the Hanya Yanagihara novel – in March 2023 that the Need for Speed star was last seen with James.

The couple kept fairly private about their life together but that same month James gave some rare insight into their dynamic.

‘It comes as a cost because you don’t see each other a lot, but we are willing to pay that for the benefit of having someone in your life close to you who gets it, who is forgiving, who will give up their Sunday to do an annoying self-tape (audition),’ he told The Guardian at the time.

James Norton at ’Bob Marley: One Love’ film premiere

Imogen also appears to have unfollowed James on social media and hasn’t liked any of his recent posts about his new projects.

James appears to be focusing on work though, having been in the running alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Idris Elba to take over as James Bond.

He previously told Metro.co.uk: ‘I think Daniel Craig’s done an amazing job re-defining it for a modern era and it’s this human role in a really wonderful way.

‘I think that’s great. I think it’d be short-sighted to not pay attention to [how the role] has changed and the shift we’ve experienced in society as well.’