James Haskell has shared new insights into his relationship with ex-wife Chloe Madeley, following what he described as an 'awful' and 'dark' conclusion to their marriage. The former rugby union player and the personal trainer, who is the daughter of television personalities Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, announced their separation in a joint statement in 2023 after five years of marriage.
A Friendship Forged from Adversity
Haskell now says that Madeley is 'a good friend' and that they maintain a transparent relationship. 'We're very transparent with each other,' he stated. 'I feel lucky to have that kind of trust and support – it makes everything feel collaborative, and it's a relationship I truly value.' He credited Madeley with encouraging him to appear on the E4 reality show Celebs Go Dating, despite his initial hesitation.
Reflections on the Split
Earlier, Haskell acknowledged that his drinking habits contributed to the breakdown of their marriage. 'If I put more time into my marriage than I did Guinness, then I wouldn't be divorced now,' he remarked. He emphasized their commitment to co-parenting their four-year-old daughter, Bodhi. 'What we all forget is when you have children and a marriage finishes, it's all about the kids. Chloe and I are amazing co-parents. Our priority is always Bodhi.'
Madeley's Perspective
Madeley has previously described the months leading up to their separation as 'incredibly scary' and 'one of the worst periods of my life.' She explained that she chose not to disclose the reasons for the divorce to protect their daughter from 'dark and painful experiences.' In an interview with The Sun, she said: 'When you tell people that you are divorcing, everyone sees it as such a negative thing. They say: “This is going to be so hard for you.” And, yes, it is, but the hardest bit was when we were married. The last year of the marriage was awful. It was so dark, painful, and one of the worst periods of my life. It's a good thing we ended it.'
Joint Statement
The couple's joint statement, released in October 2023, came shortly after they appeared on the ITV reality show Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair. It read: 'Chloe and I mutually decided to separate at the end of September 2023. We had not planned on releasing a statement at this time – certainly not while the television show was airing – but constant speculation about our marriage has, unfortunately, forced our hand. Beyond this statement, we will not be speaking about this matter publicly, and we would request privacy at this time. Our sole focus now is our beautiful daughter. We shall continue to co-parent with nothing but love.'
