Lisa Whelchel ends 24-year marriage

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. actress and TV personality Lisa Whelchel told People.com Thursday she divorced her husband, Steve Cauble, in March after 24 years.

Whelchel, 49, is a former star of the sitcom "The Facts of Life" and current competitor on "Survivor: Philippines." She had worked in Christian ministry with Cauble, the father of her three children, since 1988.

"The divorce was final on March 1, and [I] went out to be on 'Survivor' on March 10," Whelchel told People.com.

"Going out to 'Survivor' was helpful for me, to divert my attention and not just dwell on the loss. I just never thought it would happen to me," she said. "It was painful to realize that it wasn't going to work out."