James and Ola Jordan announced their separation last week following almost 23 years of marriage. Sources have now claimed that it was James' 'overwhelming grief' that saw him begin to spiral ahead of their split, after his father died in 2021 after being diagnosed with a stage-four brain tumour.
Sources detail James' struggle
Sources close to James explained to The Sun: “James was never the same again following the loss of his dad. It affected his life more than he or anyone ever expected and it really took its toll on their relationship.”
“James’ mental health has been suffering for a while, and more recently he spiralled. He is still very much dealing with his grief,” they added.
Public statement from the couple
The former Strictly Come Dancing professionals, who share six-year-old daughter Ella, spoke out publicly on Saturday for the first time after news of their split emerged on Friday.
Posting on social media, James shared a statement, which read: "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. 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."
James opens up on mental health
In the lengthy statement, James also opened up on his own mental health, admitting he was struggling. "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," he added, mentioning his daughter.
Looking to the future, the couple added that they didn't know what the future looked like, but would continue to prioritise their daughter. "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."
The dancing duo began dating in 1999 after meeting through the competitive dancing world. They went on to marry in October 2003, three years before joining Strictly Come Dancing together in 2006.
