MasterChef judge Melissa Leong has announced her separation from husband Joe Jones, after almost four years of marriage. The 38-year old shared the heartbreaking news via her Instagram page on Sunday night.'It has brought us such happiness to walk together, but the time has come for Joe and I to part ways and walk on, apart,' she began.  Over: MasterChef judge Melissa Leong announced her separation from husband Joe Jones on Sunday night, after almost four years of marriage [both pictured]'We ask for your kindness and consideration for our privacy, we will not be making any further comment as our private lives have, and will always remain exactly that.   'We wish you peace at the end of such a challenging year for all.' In June, Melissa revealed she married the tattooed bar owner hunk in February 2017 after dating for only five months, because 'when you know, you know'.'I first met him briefly at his bar in Melbourne, Romeo Lane,' Melissa told TV Week at the time. Confirmed: The 38-year old shared the heartbreaking news via her Instagram page on Sunday night. 'It has brought us such happiness to walk together, but the time has come for Joe and I to part ways and walk on, apart,' she began Privacy: Melissa continued: 'We ask for your kindness and consideration for our privacy, we will not be making any further comment as our private lives have, and will always remain exactly that'Signing off: After revealing they would be making no further comment, Melissa said '...we wish you peace at the end of such a challenging year for all' Speaking out: Melissa made the announcement on social media on Sunday night'Then we met again properly about 18 months later at a function. We started talking there and we've just not ever ceased since really. It's pretty cool.'The pair dated for just three months when they decided to get engaged. They then eloped after Melissa filmed SBS's The Chef's Line, just two months later. 'When that wrapped, we went to Joshua Tree in California and eloped. It was all very fun,' the foodie-turned-TV judge said. Happier times: In June, Melissa revealed she married the tattooed bar owner hunk in February 2017 after dating for only five months, because 'when you know, you know'Memories: 'I first met him briefly at his bar in Melbourne, Romeo Lane,' Melissa told TV Week. 'Then we met again properly about 18 months later at a function. We started talking there and we've just not ever ceased since really. It's pretty cool.'Joe proved to be a hit with MasterChef: Back to Win viewers when he featured on the show in April.Following the episode, Melissa shared a sweet tribute to her husband to Instagram, thanking him for appearing alongside her on the show.'Shout outs to my awfully hot husband for being a legend and agreeing to be on MasterChef with me,' she wrote.'Not only is he a classically French trained chef with a specialist focus in pastry, and one of the best things to ever happen to me,' Melissa added. Fast path to love: The pair dated for just three months when they decided to get engaged. They then eloped after Melissa filmed SBS's The Chef's Line, just two months laterWhile the reasoning behind their split has not been disclosed, Joe wrote a telling tribute to his wife in February to celebrate their third year of marriage - where he hinted her busy filming schedule may have taken a toll on their relationship. 'Mel is in the depths of one of the most challenging, defining career moves of her life,' he began.   He then claimed that things 'aren't always easy' in marriage, and that her work schedule meant the pair were unlikely to 'see a lot of each other today'. 'The sentiment behind my feelings is that most things worth doing aren't always easy and have the capacity to be dramatic and really stressful at certain times,' he added.'But I sort of believe the hard parts of your life overlapping and trying to dissolve your comfort is what living really is, and even if it gets heaps harder I'm still happy to do it with you.'Melissa had also posted about the pair's marriage on her own Instagram page, describing it as 'a non-stop blockbuster of action' and 'drama'. Two peas in a pod: Joe proved to be a hit with MasterChef: Back to Win viewers when he featured on the show in April