Kris and Bruce Jenner announce separation

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians stars say they're 'much happier' apart

Bruce and Kris Jenner have separated (Getty Images)

Kris and Bruce Jenner, the stars of hit reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, have separated after 22 years of marriage.

The couple have two teenage daughters, Kendall and Kylie, as well as four children each from previous marriages. Kris's daughters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe, from her marriage to the late attorney Robert Kardashian, are the bedrock of the family's reality show and its various merchandise spin-offs.

In a statement to E! News, the couple said: "We are living separately and we are much happier this way.

"Even though we are separated, we will always remain best friends and, as always, our family will remain our number one priority."

They said they will "always have much love and respect for each other".

Viewers of the show often see disagreements between Kris and Olympic gold-medallist Bruce, but they’re generally not taken too seriously.

However, in the current (eighth) season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Bruce spent time away from Kris in a home the family was renting in Malibu, while Kris has been photographed not wearing her wedding ring.