Shirley Bassey’s first marriage was to Kenneth Hume in 1961. The couple separated in 1964 and divorced in 1965 in the wake of Bassey’s affair with actor Peter Finch.
She later announced to the press that she and Finch would not be marrying, telling the press: “It simply wouldn’t work out. Just know I am not ready for marriage to anyone. I feel I have to be free”. A year later, Hume sued Finch and another man, John McAuliffe, for being indiscreet with Bassey.
Both Finch and McAuliffe were cited as co-respondents in the Hume-Bassey divorce. For her part, Bassey was named as co-respondent in 1965 when Finch’s wife, South African actress Yolande Turner, divorced him.
Bassey has numerous BBC television specials, she has hosted her variety series, Shirley Bassey. In 2011, BBC aired the television film Shirley, based on Bassey’s life and career. Her song Goldfinger was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008.
In a career spanning over 70 years, Bassey has sold over 140 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female artists of all time. She is the first woman in history to claim a Top 40 album in seven consecutive decades in the United Kingdom.