Former Strictly Come Dancing stars James and Ola Jordan have announced their split, with James admitting he has been struggling with his mental health. The couple, who have been together for 26 years, shared the news in a joint statement on social media over the weekend.
Joint Statement and Trial Separation
Their manager, Vickie White, confirmed that they had "began a trial separation some time ago" before James, 48, and Ola, 43, released their own personal messages. In their joint post, they wrote: "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."
They added: "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."
Mental Health Struggles
The statement continued: "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."
James also shared a personal note, saying: "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 Dancing On Ice winner has since launched a men’s health podcast named Manopause, co-hosted by fellow ex-Strictly star Brendan Cole, with former contestant Wynne Evans also involved.
Wedding Rings Removed
In promotional clips for the podcast, James was pictured without his wedding ring. It has been reported that Ola also removed hers a while ago. The split comes two months before what would have been their 23rd wedding anniversary.
