The husband of Steps idol Faye Tozer has sparked fears for their 16-year marriage after posting a cryptic post about his heartbreak.

The nineties pop legend and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant appeared to be living a seemingly idyllic life with Michael and their teenage son in a quiet village near the northeast coast.

But now, MailOnline has been told the ‘Strictly curse’ has struck again, albeit belatedly – and Faye moved out of the family home in South Tyneside just weeks before Christmas.

When MailOnline approached businessman Mick this week he said: We’re going through some things and trying to work some stuff out. That’s all I will say.’

Faye, 49, had previously jokingly styled herself as ‘Mrs Smith’ and said of younger Michael – known to friends as Mick – that he is ‘my husband, my rock, my best friend and my partner in crime’.

But just days after celebrating Faye’s birthday in a gushing post on Instagram, Mick, 43, her second husband signalled that the relationship could be breaking down posting on social media.

The post read: ‘I met you when I was not looking for you and lost when I loved you the most.’

A day later, he shared a picture of Banksy’s famous broken heart with a plaster labelled ‘closed for repairs’.

Faye Tozer and her husband Mick Smith (pictured) are understood to be going through a tough time in their 16-year marriage with the Strictly star and 90s pop icon Faye having moved out

Just before Christmas Faye’s husband posted a cryptic image of a broken heart on Instagram suggesting their relationship was on the rocks 

Just days after Faye’s birthday he shared this image which read ‘I met you when I was not looking for you and lost you when I loved you the most’

Faye (pictured with her dance partner Giovanni Pernice in January 2019) and Mick survived the infamous ‘Strictly curse’ 

A source said: ‘It is really sad. She was on Strictly Come Dancing seven years ago and we were all a bit concerned because of the famous so-called ‘curse’ on the programme [inspired by the number of contestants whose relationships have broken up shortly after appearing].

‘But Faye and Mick sailed through that and seemed even stronger as a couple after it.

‘They seemed a really solid couple right up to the moment Faye left.

‘It just seemed to happen out of the blue. They always used to be so lovely, both really nice people. It’s such shame.’

A neighbour said: ‘Faye and Michael haven’t been doing the simple things that they enjoyed together around here for so long.

‘They were regulars in our local pub, which they used to be in together all the time, and you’d also see them around the village happily walking their two dogs together.

But Faye has not been seen around here for months now so we started to work out that she was no longer living there.

‘Then people started to worry about Michael in particular after some of his social media activity – he posted a picture of a broken heart which was ‘closed for repairs’ and a really sad message with it.

‘If the marriage is in trouble, it’s really sad as they were such a great couple.’

Faye starred in the 90s pop group Steps, known for their hit Tragedy and 5, 6, 7, 8. Pictured: Steps members, Lee Latchford-Evans, Ian Watkins, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee and Faye 

Just days before Mick posted about his heartache, he shared a sweet set of pH๏τos for Faye’s birthday

The couple (pictured together in March 2018) married at Beamish Hall, County Durham, in December 2009

Faye and Michael – who share a son and married at Beamish Hall, County Durham, in December 2009 – survived the ‘Strictly curse’ when she appeared on the show in 2018, partnering Giovanni Pernice.

She and the pro dancer were pH๏τographed together having what was termed a ‘flirty’ lunch to celebrate her 43rd birthday.

In the pictures the pair appear to gaze into each other’s eyes and Giovanni reaches out a hand across the table to touch her face.

Michael responded to speculation about their marriage by posting on social media: ‘So proud of @Faye_Tozer it’s been another tough week on and off the pitch but we do what we do and march on as a team.’

Asked about Strictly’s marriage-wrecking reputation, Faye said: ‘I think it’s down to the individual couples, for us we have a real marriage.

‘We have been married for nine years and we’ve always worked away from each other. I’ve always toured. The fact I was on Strictly doesn’t change anything for us. We are solid.’

Faye’s first marriage to Danish rock drummer Jasper Irn, 59, came to an abrupt end after 10 years together.

The couple, who married in 2002 in Dunstable, Beds, were married for five years, but Jasper claimed the end was swift.

The couple, who share a teenage son, pictured together earlier this year 

Faye on Strictly Come Dancing with her partner Giovanni Pernice in 2018 

In a 2018 interview he said: ‘She became cold and distant to me and suddenly, after almost 10 wonderful years together, everything started falling apart.

‘One day she told me, ‘I’ve had enough. I don’t want to see you anymore’. I was shocked.’

He added: ‘I was young and stupid. I think Faye wanted me to fight for her.

‘We began living separate lives. One day she told me, ‘I’ve had enough. I don’t want to see you anymore’. Looking back, I should have told her, ‘We are married and we are staying married’. Instead, I turned and walked away. A huge mistake.’

Faye became a household name 30 years ago after her astonishing success with manufactured high tempo pop act Steps.

They scored two No1 singles and three chart-topping albums, with pop mogul Pete Waterman pulling the strings, sold more than 20 million records worldwide.

The singer is about to join the cast of Diamonds and Dust at the Emerald Theatre in London’s West End, alongside burlesque queen Dita Von Teese.

She will play Miss Kitty LeRoy in the show’s world premier, which begins on June 16th.

MailOnline has also contacted Faye’s representatives for comment.