Chloe Madeley has spoken candidly about the difficult end of her marriage to former rugby union player James Haskell, describing the process as "incredibly emotional and volatile."
The Rollercoaster of Divorce and Co-Parenting
In a frank interview, the 38-year-old daughter of TV presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan explained that while life has now settled into a routine for co-parenting their three-year-old daughter, Bodhi, the path to get there was far from smooth. Chloe and James, 40, separated in October 2023 after five years of marriage and an 11-year relationship, with their divorce being finalised just days ago on 30 December 2025.
"We have weeks where everything’s fine and we get on really well," she said. "And then we have weeks where we don’t agree on something or someone gets frustrated or angry, and then we don’t speak." To manage this turbulence, Chloe revealed she has instituted a "hard policy" to avoid the "big blowout rows" that ultimately led her to leave the marriage.
A 'Slap in the Face' and Moving Forward
The reality of the legal split hit hard when the official paperwork arrived. Chloe admitted that receiving the final divorce letter felt like an "undiluted slap in the face," bringing unexpected feelings of failure. She acknowledged it will take "a time of grieving" before she can view this chapter as a fresh start.
Following the separation, Chloe experienced a period of severe depression that required medication. However, two years on, she says she is now in a place where she is "loving life again." She was adamant about not rekindling a romantic relationship with James, stating she "never want[s] to be in a relationship with him again" and is uncertain if she wants to be in any relationship at all after things became "incredibly dark and sad and painful."
Focus on Fatherhood and Two Sides to Every Story
Despite the personal rift, Chloe was quick to praise James's role as a father, emphasising that their co-parenting relationship has improved since the divorce was finalised and calling him a "great father." She also noted respectfully that "there are two sides to each story" and that James would have his own perspective on events.
Representatives for James Haskell were contacted for comment in the original report.
