Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Ola Jordan has admitted her heart has felt heavier than she ever imagined following her split from husband James Jordan.
The 43-year-old dancer broke her silence on Instagram on Friday to reflect on an incredibly tough summer after ending her 26-year relationship with her fellow professional dancer husband.
The couple, who were the longest-standing pair associated with the BBC flagship entertainment series Strictly Come Dancing, first began dating in 1999 and married in 2003. They decided to end their relationship for good after a trial separation that began some time ago.
Ola Jordan statement on Instagram
Taking to social media on Friday, Ola shared a candid message reflecting on how her life had shifted in recent months. "There have been moments this summer when my heart has felt heavier than I ever imagined it could," she wrote. "Life has changed in ways I never expected, and some days have been incredibly tough."
The dancer explained that her six-year-old daughter Ella had been her main source of strength throughout the emotional ordeal. "But through all of the uncertainty, one thing has remained constant, my beautiful girl Ella," she wrote.
"Spending these summer holidays with my baby girl, making memories, having cuddles, laughing until our tummies hurt and simply enjoying every precious moment together has been my greatest comfort," Ola continued. "She may not realise it now, but she has been my little ray of sunshine through some of my darkest days."
Looking ahead, Ola stated that she is focusing on her daughter and positive memories. "This summer hasn't been the one I imagined, but I'm choosing to focus on what truly matters - her, our memories, and all the love between us," she said.
She also expressed gratitude to her followers and family members for supporting her through the marital split. "And to everyone who has sent me messages, checked in on me, shown me kindness or simply reminded me that I'm not alone," she added. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your love and support have meant more to me than you will ever know."
James Jordan midlife crisis and podcast
The couple's breakup saw 48-year-old James move out of their five-bedroom family home in Kent, a county in South East England, and remove his wedding band. While Ola remained quiet until Friday, James had previously discussed the split on television and audio broadcasts.
Last week, James announced that he is going through a midlife crisis, admitting that he has found the last few years really tough and is struggling with life at the minute.
Speaking in a trailer for his new podcast, Manopause, which he hosts alongside fellow former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Brendan Cole, James opened up about his feelings of directionlessness.
"I'm going through a midlife crisis. The last few years, for me, have been really tough," James said in the trailer. "I'm not afraid to admit it. I put my hands up and say I'm struggling with life at the minute. So many different things, with career choices, waking up and not having purpose, things like that."
He added that the podcast project aims to address men's mental health issues. "Manopause is for the middle-aged man that's struggling a little bit and hopefully we're going to be able to help ourselves and help you at the same time," he explained.
Television appearance and living situation
James also appeared on the ITV daytime television program This Morning, where he spoke with presenters Angela Scanlon and Craig Doyle about his new living arrangement in a one-bedroom flat.
"It's been a tough few years. I moved out a few months ago," James told the hosts during the broadcast. "I find it hard to talk about and I'm not going to speak about it too much because I don't think it's fair when she's not here as well."
James revealed that his podcast co-host Brendan Cole has been checking in on him every day, describing the support as a crucial lifeline. "Knowing that people are out there you can talk to... otherwise I'm sitting in a one bedroom apartment on my own at night watching TV going 'what is going on?'."
Addressing reports regarding why he left the marital home in Kent, James explained his need for personal time. "I just feel I need that time to find myself again. People can say 'it's really selfish of you'," he said.
He added that he hopes his new podcast will help both men and women understand emotional struggles. "Women can watch and listen and hear what struggles men are going through and they might relate to that with their husband or their other half," he stated.
Joint statement and co-parenting plans
The couple initially confirmed their separation in a joint statement released last weekend after press reports and fan inquiries about their marriage began to circulate.
"After 26 years together, this is something we never imagined we would be sharing," the former Strictly dancers wrote in the shared statement. "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."
They continued: "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. 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."
The former couple stressed that their absolute priority remains co-parenting their six-year-old daughter. "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," they stated.
In a personal addition to the joint statement, James addressed his ongoing mental health struggles. "Speaking personally, my mental health hasn't been in a good place for quite some time," he wrote. "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."
Concluding their statement, the pair asked for privacy as they deal with the end of their marriage. "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," they wrote.
"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," they added, before thanking fans for their ongoing support.
