Former Strictly Come Dancing professionals James and Ola Jordan have confirmed they are separating after 22 years of marriage, sharing that James moved out of their family home "some time ago" as they "work through very difficult personal challenges" including James' mental health struggles.
The pair chose to address the situation publicly to speak directly to fans rather than allow rumors to circulate, and James, 48, and 43-year-old Ola, who married in 2003, emphasized that their six-year-old daughter, Ella, remains their priority.
© Getty"She’s at the center of everything we do," the statement read. "We are committed to co-parenting her with all the love, care, and stability she deserves. Neither of us is in a good place right now, and we ask for kindness, empathy, and a little privacy as we work through this as a family."
"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," the statement continued.
© Ola Jordan"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," they shared, admitting that this has been "an incredibly painful and emotional journey for us both and it certainly wasn’t an easy decision."
James and Ola married in 2003. Three years later, they became household names when they joined the BBC One show. James said goodbye to the ballroom for good in 2013, and Ola followed him two years later amid a string of controversies including alleging the show's scoring was "fixed" by judges.
© Tony WoolliscroftHints of strain in their busy schedules surfaced in early 2025, when Ola opened up in her HELLO! column about spending Christmas 2024 largely apart due to James' commitments on the Legends Tour and in pantomime.
"Our Christmas was really weird because James wasn't around that much. He came back for Christmas Day, we went out for a meal in a restaurant, went to James' mum's house and then we got back home, went to bed, and then he left again," Ola shared.
"Ella missed her dad a lot," she continued. "I took her to see him in panto and she cried all the way home. We were driving down the M1 and she was crying saying, 'I want my daddy'. And a few times at home when he was away over Christmas, she would go to bed and say, 'I miss my daddy, I really love him, mummy.'"
© GettyClosing their statement, the couple concluded: "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."
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
