STRICTLY B0MBSHELL: Famous Couple Split After 22 Years of Marriage in Shock Announcement Leaves Fans Heartbroken
Strictly’s James and Ola Jordan split after 22 years of marriage
The couple started dating back in 1999 and has been a power couple both on and off the show.
Former Strictly pros Ola and James Jordan have reportedly split after 22 years of marriage (Image: Sunday Mirror)
Strictly Come Dancing’s infamous showbiz couple James and Ola Jordan have reportedly separated after 22 years of marriage. The 48-year-old ballroom dancer and his former dance partner, 43, reportedly told friends that they could no longer make their relationship work. According to The Sun, they are the latest married couple to fall for the show’s dreaded relationship curse just weeks before the show returns for a major reboot.
The couple first started dating back in 1999 when they met at a dance competition in Blackpool and were due to celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary in a matter of weeks. But their close friends have informed the outlet that their romance has “come to a head” and that the doting parents, who share daughter Ella, are devastated by the outcome.
The couple are focusing on co-parenting their daughter Ella (Image: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
A source told them: “It’s been a huge shock to their friends and family because they always seemed like such a solid couple. But they know in the long run it’s the right decision. They have been together for almost 30 years, and while they love and care for each other, things have changed.”
The insider went on to reveal that James “hasn’t been in a good place for quite a while”, leading the pair to have open and honest discussions about their future together in recent months. They went on to add that Ola has taken off the wedding and engagement rings James gave her in 2001.
The source concluded: “Their focus now is on Ella and keeping things settled for her.” When approached for a comment, the pair’s manager and close friend, Vickie White, confirmed to Express.co.uk: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm that James and Ola began a trial separation some time ago.
“Their shared priority remains co-parenting their daughter, Ella, and they are committed to putting her wellbeing first. They would greatly appreciate your understanding as they navigate this difficult time.” Express.co.uk has reached out to James and Ola’s representative for a comment.
The couple have been open about navigating the hardships of a marriage over the years, with James previously telling the press: “Marriage can be like a job sometimes, you’ve got to work at it. I feel sometimes people are quick to give up on something and think the grass is always greener on the other side.”
Ola interjected with: “It’s not all beautiful. Sometimes you can look at people’s posts and think, ‘Oh, they’ve got perfect lives’, but it’s not like that. No one’s got a perfect marriage. It’s a work-in-progress, and if two people want to be together, they’ll make it happen.”
Speculation that something was amiss in their relationship first began at the start of the year when fans spotted the couple were spending less time together. Last month, James was pictured with Ella at a Paw Patrol movie premiere in London, notably without his wife.
Meanwhile, Ola was seen with their daughter at the opening of Paw Patrol Land at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, without James in sight. Their separation comes after the family downsized from their £2.5million mansion in Kent to a five-bedroom home nearby back in 2023. They had been doing up the house and sharing the results of their labour on social media.
