Ben and Jen: Our marriage is over

Hollywood couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are divorcing after 10 years of marriage.

Following weeks of speculation, the couple issued a joint statement to American celebrity website TMZ.

"After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," they said.

"We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

The couple would have celebrated their 10-year marriage anniversary yesterday.

They have three children together - Violet, Seraphina Rose Elizabeth and Samuel Garner Affleck.

During his acceptance speech at the Oscars in 2013, Affleck referred to their marriage as "work".

While picking up the trophy for best picture for Argo, he referenced Garner, saying: "I want to thank you for working on our marriage for 10 Christmases. It's good. It is work but it's the best kind of work and there's no one I'd rather work with."

The couple were married in 2005 after meeting on the set of Daredevil in 2003.