James and Ola Jordan have broken their silence after ending their 22-year marriage.
It was announced on Friday that Strictly‘s longest-standing couple had split for good after a trial separation ‘some time ago’ with James moving out of their Kent family home.
James, 48, shared a joint statement 24 hours later on his Instagram and spoke about his struggles with his mental health and their ‘incredibly painful and emotional decision’ to part ways.
It said: ‘After 26 years together, this is something we never imagined we would be sharing.
‘Following recent reports in the press about our relationship and after receiving messages asking if everything is okay, we feel it’s important to speak directly rather than let speculation or hearsay tell our story.
‘We have always tried to be open and honest with the people who have supported us over the years and we feel it’s only right that this update comes from us.
James and Ola Jordan have broken their silence after ending their 22-year marriage
‘At the moment we’re taking some time apart as we work through very difficult personal challenges. (James) moved out of the family home some time ago. This has been an incredibly painful and emotional journey for us both and it certainly wasn’t an easy decision.’
They went to say their ‘absolute priority is their daughter, Ella, six.
They said: ‘Our absolute priority, now and always, is our beautiful daughter Ella. She’s at the centre of everything we do. We are committed to co-parenting her with all the love, care and stability she deserves.
‘Speaking personally (James) my mental health hasn’t been in a good place for quite some time. I’ve been struggling more than I’ve let people see and I’m taking the time I need to focus on getting myself into a healthier place, both for myself and for Ella.
‘Neither of us is in a good place right now. We’re both doing our best to navigate one of the hardest chapters of our lives and we ask that people remember there are real people and real emotions behind every headline, every comment and every post.
‘We don’t know exactly what the future holds. For now, we’re taking things one day at a time, doing what we both believe is best for ourselves, our family and most importantly….. Ella.
‘We’re incredibly grateful for the love, kindness and concern so many of you have shown us over the years. You’ve been part of our journey for a long time and wanted to honour that with an honest update. Right now, more than anything we ask for kindness, empathy and a little privacy as we work through this as a family. Thank you for understanding.’
It was announced on Friday that Strictly’s longest-standing couple had split for good after a trial separation ‘some time ago’
‘After 26 years together, this is something we never imagined we would be sharing. After receiving messages asking if everything is okay, we feel it’s important to speak directly’
The former couple said they are working through ‘difficult personal challenges’ with James moving out ‘some time ago’ but they remain committed to co-parenting their daughter
‘Neither of us is in a good place right now. We’re both doing our best to navigate one of the hardest chapters of our lives’, they said
James also shared the statement in his Instagram caption
The pair were the show’s longest-standing couple after they started dating in 1999 and married in 2003 (pictured)
James has previously spoken about how he battled with crippling anxiety following the death of his beloved father, Alan in 2021.
He said at the time how his grief made him feel extremely weak, he woke up panicked thinking someone had broken into his house, and he experienced severe anxiety.
Citing his daughter as a Godsend, James said his family, specifically his wife and dance partner Ola, had pulled him out of the emotional and dark time.
The couple started dating in 1999 and married in 2003.
They welcomed their daughter Ella in February 2020 via IVF following a three-year fertility battle.
The couple have long been open about the ups and downs in their decades-long romance, often opening up to fans about everything from disagreements to their sex life.
Back in 2017, when they’d been together for 18 years at the time, James said ‘life isn’t all smooth sailing’ as he admitted to troubles in the relationship.
During an appearance on Lorraine, he said life with Ola has not always been easy as he revealed: ‘Life isn’t all smooth sailing – we have had ups and downs.’
The couple spoke in the past about their love woes, with Ola saying: ‘It’s not all beautiful and sometimes you can look at people’s posts on Instagram and Facebook and you think, oh they’ve got perfect lives, but it’s not like that…
‘Marriage is not like that, no one’s got a perfect marriage. It’s a work in progress and I think if two people want to be together, they’ll make it happen.
‘Sometimes you have dark times and you need your other half’s support, and it’s not all pretty and perfect that people seem to think.’
Meanwhile, in July 2023, the pair revealed that their sex life was back on track after previously confessing sex is ‘definitely not better with mum and dad bods’.
The former Strictly Come Dancing professionals admitted that their bedroom activities had hit an all-time low after the couple became ‘obese’.
Ola said their ‘bellies got in their way’ of their romance the previous year before they shredded the pounds with their own fitness plan, Dance Shred.
She cheekily gushed that her partner’s slimmed down figure has boosted the appearance of what he’s packing in his underwear.
She told The Sun: ‘Well, let’s face it. It’s much more pleasant nowadays, isn’t it? The bellies don’t jiggle as much as they used to.’
The split comes just three years after they revealed their plans to renew their vows at Elvis chapel during their 20th anniversary trip to Las Vegas.
Speaking to The Sun in 2023, the pair enthused over their upcoming getaway to mark the special occasion and admitted that they just might end up getting hitched again.
James said, ‘You never know where you’re gonna end up after a few drinks. We used to go there loads before Ella was born and we like letting our hair down every now and again.
‘We might end up somewhere saying, “I do”,’ he confessed while Ola chimed in, ‘At the Elvis chapel!’
James and Polish-born beauty Ola first met at a dance competition in Blackpool in 1999 and married four years later.
They were initially dance partners before their professional relationship developed into romance, James proposed two years later and the couple tied the knot in October 2003.
The pair shot to fame as professionals on BBC One celebrity competition Strictly Come Dancing, which they both joined in series four back in 2006.
James bowed out of the show after season 11 in 2013, while Ola left at the end of series 13 in 2015.
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