Christian, 35, works as a freelance film-maker in Canada while Sophie lives in London and, as a result, they only see each other around seven times a year.

“I won’t pretend that it’s not difficult sometimes,” says Sophie, a 34-year-old newsreader for Radio Five Live.

“Sometimes when Christian leaves I feel bereft and I just can’t face the emotional goodbye at the airport.

“But the plus side to living apart is that because we can’t take each other for granted, we have a very open and honest relationship.

"We speak for at least an hour a day and when we’re together we cram in as many wonderful memories as possible.”

Every year one of them – usually Christian because his job is more flexible – takes three months off work so they can spend a large chunk of quality time together.

They go walking and cycling in the UK, or kayaking and exploring in Canada.

Surprisingly, Sophie and Christian’s living arrangements are catching on with many other couples around the country.

According to recent research, up to two million people can now be described as LATS – couples who don’t live near each other – and it’s a trend that psychologists think will become increasingly popular.

“This kind of living arrangement would have been very unusual 10 or 15 years ago but now we’re seeing more and more LATS,” says clinical psychologist Dr Funké Baffour.

“Women with successful careers and busy social lives are no longer prepared to give it all up just because their husbands have jobs elsewhere."

Celebrities are also flying the flag for LATS.

Due to his successful US career, Simon Cowell divides his time between his LA and London homes (as well as having one in Barbados and another in Dubai), while girlfriend Terri Seymour spends most of her time in LA concentrating on her work as a TV presenter.

With homes in Worcestershire, West London and the South of France, singer Toyah Willcox spends just one month a year in the same house as her husband of 12 years, guitarist Robert Fripp, and says she loves the solitude of living alone.

Dr Baffour says living separately can work under the right circumstances.

“As long as you make an agreement at the beginning that both of you are happy with it and keep the lines of communication open at all times, these relationships can be very successful,” she says.

This is certainly how Sophie and Christian make their marriage work.

They have been together for 15 years, and married for eight.

Throughout that time Christian has lived in Denmark, Dubai and Canada, while Sophie has remained in the UK.

The longest they have lived together has been six months, when they were both based in England at the start of their relationship.

“Christian is half Danish and he was always flying off to Denmark,” says Sophie.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I fell in love with him and decided to follow my heart.”

Sophie says the couple trust each other totally and that helps their relationship.

“Of course we have considered getting jobs in the same country but I can’t see that happening”, she says.

“Christian’s work takes him all over the world and I wouldn’t be happy in the role of his wife and sidekick who just followed him around the globe.

“At least we haven’t settled into dull routines and I get excited about seeing him. I have my hair done and make sure there’s nice food in for when he gets home.

“Of course there are times when I wish he was around,” she adds.

“Like when I’m ill, but I know if I told Christian I was really struggling, he’d be on the next plane home.

“Even when we decide to have children, I’m sure we’ll be one of those couples who spend some time together and some apart.

"Being LATS works for us and it helps to keep our relationship special.”

Do you have an unusual relationship? Do you live apart from your partner but still enjoy a great relationship? Do you think people should live together if they’ve committed to a relationship and married? Do things change when children are involved?

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Photography: Karen Hatch, David Fisher, Rex Hair and make-up: Kellie Mitchell at Jay Goodman