James Jordan has opened up about his new living arrangements following his separation from his wife and former Strictly Come Dancing professional Ola Jordan. The couple confirmed the end of their 26-year relationship with a joint statement on social media, revealing that James had moved out of the family home some time ago.
James Jordan's Lonely Evenings
Appearing on Wednesday's episode of This Morning, the 48-year-old dancer admitted he spends his evenings "sitting alone in a one-bed flat watching TV." He and Ola, who began dating in 1999 and married in 2003, were famously Strictly's longest-standing couple.
James appeared on the ITV show to promote his new podcast Manopause with Brendan Cole, when he was asked about the marriage breakdown. Speaking to hosts Angela Scanlon and Craig Doyle, he said: "It's been a tough few years. I moved out a few months ago. 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."
Support from Friends
Brendan Cole, who was also in attendance, shared that he has been "checking in" with his friend every day, which James said has been a lifeline in recent months. "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?'"
The dad-of-one also highlighted reports that he told his wife he needed space and was moving out of their five-bedroom family home in Kent, explaining: "I just feel I need that time to find myself again. People can say 'it's really selfish of you.'"
Joint Statement on the Split
In the shared statement, James explained how his "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."
The couple added: "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. 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 concluded: "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. Thank you for understanding."
