BURNLEY-born BBC TV boss Peter Salmon has spoken about the heartache of leaving his long-term partner and three sons for ex-Coronation Street star Sarah Lancashire.

Former St Theodore's RC High School student Mr Salmon, 44, has moved out of the Oxford house he shared with his partner of 20 years Penny Watt and is staying in a flat nearby.

And he has told friends that the couple allowed details of the affair to be made public because they do not want to live a lie.

It is understood that Mr Salmon, who brought Wallace and Gromit to the small screen, met Ms Lancashire, 36, when they both worked for Granada TV in Manchester.

The former Controller of BBC 1, who is set to become Director of Sport in November, was at the Royal Albert Hall this week to see ITV's highest-paid actress win the Most Popular Actress prize at the National TV Awards.

She has two sons from a previous relationship.

A friend of Mr Salmon said: "Moving out and away -- even though it's only a matter of yards -- from his children has been incredibly hard for Peter to do.

"He adores them and is fiercely proud of all three of them.

"It has been an agonising decision for him but he and Sarah do not want to live a lie." Another source close to the couple added: "It's an extremely painful time for all concerned. No-one breaks up a relationship of this length lightly.

"Although Peter's relationship has broken he has loved Penny deeply and would never want intentionally to hurt her.

"She is a fantastic mum and has given him support over the years, and he is trying to make the split as painless as possible."

Mr Salmon, who became Controller of BBC1 in 1997, was brought up in Albion Street, Burnley, the son of mill worker Doreen and window cleaner Patrick.

The Warwick University graduate got his foot in the door through the BBC's graduate trainee scheme, and later worked on Newsnight, Blue Peter, and did radio reports from troublespots around the world.

He was a member of the original Crimewatch UK team, first as assistant producer and then producer. He also worked on 999, and brought the Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit animation The Wrong Trousers to TV.

After 12 years at the BBC he left for Granada, where his credits included Moll Flanders, Reckless and Hillsborough.

Returning to the BBC meant a move back south to Oxford.

But in an interview last year he said he returned to Burnley when he could and followed the every move of Burnley Football Club.

He still has family in East Lancashire, including his brother, Michael, an electrician, in Cliviger.

Ms Lancashire left Coronation Street, where she played barmaid Raquel, in 1996.

A BBC press spokesman said Mr Salmon would not be available for comment today.

She said the issue was a personal matter for Mr Salmon and the BBC had no formal comment to make.