David Duchovny and Tea Leoni split

David Duchovny and wife split amidst rumours of Billy Bob Thornton affair

David Duchovny and his wife Téa Leoni have split, amidst rumours that the actress started an affair with Billy Bob Thornton.

The couple released a statement yesterday confirming that they have been separated for a length of time.

It read, 'In light of continuous speculation over the lives and marriage of Téa Leoni and David Duchovny, the couple has confirmed that they have in fact been separated for several months. The couple had hoped to keep this separation private for the sake of their children.'

Now sources are claiming that the split was triggered by Duchovny's discovery of explicit texts from Billy Bob Thornton on Leoni's phone, the Daily Mail reports. The actress and Thornton met on the set of new movie Manure, which they filmed together earlier this year.

Rumours have plagued the marriage of the X Files actor and his wife ever since he entered a rehab facility for sex addiction in August this year. He left earlier this month, after successfully completing the programme.

Leoni's spokeswoman added that an announcement of the separation was delayed until after Duchovny's treatment was completed. She explained, '(Leoni) is living on her own with the children in New York, but we did not want to announce it for the sake of the children until after David had received treatment for his problems.'

The couple were married in 1997 and have two children together, Madelaine, 9, and Kyd, 6.