James Jordan has denied having an affair while still in a relationship with Ola Jordan, after his ex-wife accused him of cheating with fellow dancer Polina Mayer. The professional dancer, who has faced criticism following the breakdown of his marriage, insisted: "There was no affair."
Ola, 44, and James, 48, announced their separation in August after 22 years of marriage and 26 years together. In a recent interview, Ola accused her husband of cheating with Russian dancer Polina Mayer, a claim that came to light after Mayer's husband, Jamie Cutler, made the revelation.
James Responds on The Jeremy Vine Show
During an appearance on The Jeremy Vine Show, James said: "There was no affair. I have grown closer to someone. I moved out… I haven't really spoken about it because I always said I wouldn't speak about it; I don't think it's fair unless Ola was here as well."
James and Polina were spotted checking into the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel in Central London, where rooms can be sold for around £400 per night.
Ola's Reaction
Ola, who, like James, competed on Strictly Come Dancing, said she was "devastated" following the claims. Speaking to Hello!, she said: "As a woman, you know these things in your gut, but now my worst fears have been confirmed; I'm utterly devastated. I have no clue what the future holds, and that's a scary place, but I'm trying to navigate it one day at a time."
She explained that James moved out in June, two months before they released their statement, saying: "It was traumatic. It felt as though he was giving up on us and that it was the beginning of the end. I have cried a lot of tears. I'm finding it very hard to move forward. I'm still very raw."
Social Media Posts and Joint Statement
Last month, Ola posted on social media: "Why cheat if you can just leave?" She also reshared posts about cheating men, though she did not name James in any of them.
The former couple said in a joint statement: "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. 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."
