Savannah Guthrie First Husband: Who Is Mark Orchard?

Savannah Guthrie’s first husband was Mark Orchard, a British-born journalist and television news producer. The couple met while covering the Michael Jackson trial in 2005, married later that year, and divorced in 2009.

Although Guthrie is now best known as the longtime co-anchor of NBC’s Today, her first marriage remains a frequently searched part of her personal history. Guthrie has spoken only sparingly about the relationship, and she has specifically asked that many details of the divorce remain private. What is publicly established is the basic timeline, Orchard’s journalism career, and Guthrie’s own later reflections on how difficult the divorce was.

Who Was Savannah Guthrie’s First Husband?

Savannah Guthrie’s first husband was Mark Orchard, a journalist who worked in international and U.S. broadcast news. Before and after his marriage to Guthrie, Orchard built a career largely behind the scenes, including work associated with BBC News, Al Jazeera and Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson.

The two journalists reportedly met in 2005 while covering the Michael Jackson sexual-abuse trial. Guthrie was working as a Court TV legal correspondent, while Orchard was covering the case for BBC News.

Their professional connection developed into a relationship, and they married in December 2005 according to multiple biographical and entertainment sources. The marriage ended several years later, with the divorce finalized in 2009.

Mark Orchard’s Journalism Career

Orchard’s professional identity extends well beyond his connection to Guthrie. He has worked in broadcast journalism for several major international news organizations and has covered politics, international affairs and major breaking-news stories.

Publicly available career records associate Orchard with ITN, BBC News, Al Jazeera English and Al Jazeera America. He also appeared as a reporter for Al Jazeera on stories including the search for new clues in the Amelia Earhart mystery and other major international news developments.

The Committee to Protect Journalists also listed Mark Orchard as a deputy news editor with Al Jazeera English in a 2007 statement concerning journalists working in international news.

Later, Orchard worked as a producer for Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson. IMDb’s production credits identify him as a senior broadcast producer and producer on the program during 2018–2019.

Recent biographical reporting continues to identify him with Full Measure, although detailed information about his present personal life is limited.

When Did Savannah Guthrie and Mark Orchard Get Married?

Savannah Guthrie and Mark Orchard married in 2005, with multiple sources giving December as the month of their wedding. They had met earlier that year while working on coverage of the Michael Jackson trial.

There is some inconsistency online about the exact day of the marriage. For that reason, December 2005 is the safer date to use rather than repeating a precise date from less authoritative databases.

The couple did not have children together. Guthrie later became a mother with her second husband, Michael Feldman.

When Did Savannah Guthrie and Mark Orchard Divorce?

Guthrie and Orchard divorced in 2009, ending a marriage that had lasted roughly four years. Contemporary and later biographies consistently place the end of the marriage in 2009.

Guthrie has not publicly provided a detailed account assigning responsibility for the breakup. That distinction is important because numerous online articles have attempted to explain the divorce beyond what Guthrie herself has confirmed.

In July 2025, Guthrie addressed the subject more openly during an appearance on Monica Lewinsky’s Reclaiming podcast. She described the divorce as painful and said it took her years to recover, while explicitly declining to discuss the private details.

Why Has Savannah Guthrie Kept the Divorce Private?

Guthrie has made it clear that she considers the details of her first marriage and divorce deeply personal. While discussing her 2024 book, Mostly What God Does: Reflections on Seeking and Finding His Love Everywhere, she explained that she deliberately avoided going into the details of the divorce.

She said the experience was painful and that some aspects were too personal and embarrassing to discuss publicly. She also emphasized that she was not interested in blaming anyone for what happened.

That means claims about the specific cause of the divorce should be treated cautiously. The publicly verified information establishes that the marriage ended in 2009 and that Guthrie experienced the breakup as a profoundly difficult period, but it does not establish a complete private explanation for why the marriage ended.

What Has Savannah Guthrie Said About Her First Divorce?

Guthrie’s comments have become more revealing over time, although she has continued to protect the details of the relationship.

In 2025, she said the divorce was “horrible and sad,” that it broke her heart, and that it took years to recover. She made the comments while explaining why she had chosen not to explore the subject fully in her book.

She offered additional perspective in January 2026 while speaking with Hoda Kotb on Joy Rides. Guthrie described the separation and divorce as probably the most difficult period of her life. She recalled being in her 30s, starting a new job at NBC and feeling that one part of her life was falling apart while she was trying to establish herself professionally.

Guthrie also said that she felt like a failure at the time. Looking back, however, she said the experience became an important part of her spiritual development and helped strengthen her faith.

Did Savannah Guthrie Have Children With Mark Orchard?

No. Savannah Guthrie and Mark Orchard did not have children together. Guthrie later had two children with her second husband, Michael Feldman.

Guthrie married Feldman in 2014. Their daughter, Vale, was born in August 2014, and their son, Charles “Charley,” was born in December 2016.

Her later family life is one reason the timeline can sometimes become confusing. Guthrie’s highly visible marriage to Feldman began years after her divorce from Orchard, so the two relationships should not be conflated.

Who Is Savannah Guthrie’s Husband Now?

Savannah Guthrie’s husband is Michael Feldman, a political and communications consultant. The couple met in 2008 through a mutual friend and began dating in 2009, after Guthrie’s first marriage had ended.

Feldman proposed in 2013, and Guthrie and Feldman married in March 2014 in Arizona. They have two children, Vale and Charley.

This makes Mark Orchard Guthrie’s first husband, while Feldman is her current husband.

Savannah Guthrie Marriage Timeline

Year	Event
2005	Guthrie and Mark Orchard meet while covering the Michael Jackson trial.
December 2005	Guthrie and Orchard marry.
2009	Their divorce is finalized.
2008	Guthrie meets Michael Feldman at his birthday party.
2009	Guthrie and Feldman begin dating.
2013	Feldman proposes to Guthrie.
2014	Guthrie and Feldman marry in Arizona.
2014	Their daughter, Vale, is born.
2016	Their son, Charles “Charley,” is born.
2025	Guthrie publicly reflects on the emotional impact of her first divorce.
2026	Guthrie again describes the divorce as one of the most difficult periods of her life.

The 2005–2009 timeline for Orchard and Guthrie is supported by multiple biographical and news reports.

Is Mark Orchard Still Working in Journalism?

Available public information indicates that Orchard has continued working in broadcast journalism and production. Recent profiles identify him with Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, following earlier positions with BBC News and Al Jazeera.

His professional career has generally remained separate from celebrity coverage. Unlike Guthrie, who became a major television personality through Today, Orchard has primarily worked in reporting and production roles.

There is comparatively little reliable public information about his private life today. His current relationship status, personal finances and other private matters should therefore not be presented as established facts without stronger documentation.

What Is Known About Mark Orchard’s Current Personal Life?

Very little is reliably documented about Orchard’s personal life after his divorce from Guthrie. Public reporting primarily focuses on his journalism career and his historical relationship with the Today anchor.

This limited information is not unusual for someone who has worked mostly behind the camera. It also means that claims about a current spouse, children, residence or personal wealth should be approached carefully unless supported by a credible primary or highly reputable source.

Most importantly, Orchard’s current life should not be confused with Guthrie’s highly public profile. His connection to her is an important part of the reason people search for his name, but it is not the entirety of his professional identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Savannah Guthrie’s first husband?

Savannah Guthrie’s first husband was Mark Orchard, a British-born journalist and broadcast producer. They met while covering the Michael Jackson trial in 2005 and married that year.

When did Savannah Guthrie marry Mark Orchard?

Guthrie married Mark Orchard in December 2005, according to multiple biographical and news sources. Some online databases give different exact dates, so December 2005 is the more consistently supported formulation.

Why did Savannah Guthrie and Mark Orchard divorce?

The exact private reason for their divorce has not been fully disclosed by Guthrie. She has described the breakup as extremely painful and said it took years to recover, but she has deliberately avoided discussing the specific details or assigning blame.

Did Savannah Guthrie and Mark Orchard have children?

No. Guthrie and Orchard did not have children together. Guthrie later had two children, Vale and Charley, with her second husband, Michael Feldman.

Who is Savannah Guthrie married to now?

Savannah Guthrie is married to Michael Feldman, a political and communications consultant. They married in 2014 and have two children.

What does Mark Orchard do now?

Public sources identify Orchard as a broadcast journalist and producer who has worked with organizations including BBC News, Al Jazeera and Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson. His private life is considerably less documented than Guthrie’s.

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