The reality TV beauty filed for divorce from Spencer in July, two months after they separated after less then a year of marriage, but since reconciling with her former `The Hills` co-star, the pair have now admitted they had ulterior motives for their separation.

Spencer said: "The divorce was real - just the idea behind it was different than most people. Divorcing was the only way to keep Heidi`s career going because everyone hated me so much. Look at Sandra Bullock - her divorce from Jesse James was the best thing to happen to her image."

According to the couple, British network ITV had been interested in a TV show covering their split, prompting the pair to move to Costa Rica to co-ordinate their separation, but when the deal fell through they decided to reunite.

Spencer - who recently revealed the couple are considering filing for bankruptcy after blowing their multi-million dollar fortune - now fears he will never work in TV again because his public image is so damaged.

He told Life and Style magazine: "I can`t make regular money because I was playing such an unlikeable character on TV to keep my cheques coming. Who wants to hire the jerk from `The Hills`?"
sections: Celebrities