James Jordan has revealed that he 'still cringes' when recalling the moment he called himself 'the Brad Pitt of the dancing world' during his time on Celebrity Big Brother in 2014.
The 48-year-old former Strictly Come Dancing professional finished in third place on the reality show, appearing alongside Emmerdale actress Claire King, Benefits Street's Dee Kelly, heavyweight boxer Audley Harrison and actor Gary Busey, who won the series.
Gary Busey's Wind-Ups
In a previous interview, James recalled the incident, telling Betway Inside: "I still cringe when I think about the time I described myself as 'the Brad Pitt of the dancing world'. What you probably didn't see on the show is Gary (Busey) really winding us up."
He added: "He kept going on about how much more famous he was than all of us. How he was Hollywood and we couldn't compare. He's a funny character and I liked him but the conversation went on for a while before I eventually turned to him and said 'You do realise that everyone is in here on their own merit?' and he just dismissed that and insisted his fame was next level."
James explained: "So I said: 'Let me put this in perspective. I am the Brad Pitt of the dance world'. I was saying it in a joking way but when I realised how it may come across, I was horrified. I still cringe now."
Separation from Ola Jordan
The dancer has recently made headlines after announcing his separation from wife Ola Jordan following almost 23 years of marriage. The former Strictly professionals, who share six-year-old daughter Ella, spoke out publicly after news of their split emerged last week.
In a social media statement, James said: "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."
He continued: "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."
Speaking about their daughter, he added: "Our absolute priority, now and always, is our beautiful daughter Ella. She’s at the centre of everything we do. We are committed to co-parenting her with all the love, care and stability she deserves."
Mental Health Struggles
James also opened up about his mental health, admitting: "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: "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. 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 couple started dating in 1999 after meeting through the competitive dancing world and both turned professional the following year. They married in October 2003, three years before joining Strictly Come Dancing together in 2006. James danced on the show until 2013, and Ola left two years later in 2015.
