Former Strictly stars Ola and James Jordan have announced the end of their 22-year marriage.
The pair were the show’s longest-standing couple after they started dating in 1999 and married in 2003.
But Ola, 43, and James, 48, have now fallen victim to the infamous Strictly curse as they said they have decided to end their marriage after a trial separation ‘some time ago’.
They remain committed to co-parenting their daughter, Ella, six.
James and Ola’s representative said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that I can confirm that James and Ola began a trial separation some time ago.
‘Their shared priority remains co-parenting their daughter, Ella, and they are committed to putting her wellbeing first.
Former Strictly stars Ola and James Jordan have announced the end of their 22-year marriage
The pair were the show’s longest-standing couple after they started dating in 1999 and married in 2003 (pictured 2012)
‘They would greatly appreciate your understanding as they navigate this difficult time.’
A source said the news has come as a ‘huge shock’ to family and friends.
They told The Sun: ‘It’s been a huge shock to their friends and family because they always seemed like such a solid couple.
‘But they know in the long run it is the right decision. They have been together for almost 30 years and while they love and care for each other, things have changed.
‘James hasn’t been in a good place for quite a while now and things came to a head recently. They’ve had some open and honest discussions about their future over the past few months and have now decided that the best option is for them to separate.’
The insider added Ola has taken her wedding and engagement ring off. The last social media post with James dates back to April last year.
The Daily Mail has contacted their representative for comment.
They welcomed their daughter Ella in February 2020 via IVF following a three-year fertility battle.
The couple have long been open about the ups and downs in their decades-long romance, often opening up to fans about everything from disagreements to their sex life.
Back in 2017, when they’d been together for 18 years at the time, James said ‘life isn’t all smooth sailing’ as he admitted to troubles in the relationship.
During an appearance on Lorraine, he said life with Ola has not always been easy as he revealed: ‘Life isn’t all smooth sailing – we have had ups and downs’.
Back in 2017 when they’d been together for 18 years at the time, James said ‘life isn’t all smooth sailing’ as he admitted to troubles in his relationship (pictured together in 2024)
The couple spoke in the past about their love woes, with Ola saying: ‘It’s not all beautiful and sometimes you can look at people’s posts on Instagram and Facebook and you think, oh they’ve got perfect lives, but it’s not like that…
‘Marriage is not like that, no one’s got a perfect marriage. It’s a work in progress and I think if two people want to be together, they’ll make it happen.
‘Sometimes you have dark times and you need your other half’s support, and it’s not all pretty and perfect that people seem to think.’
Meanwhile, in July 2023, the pair revealed that their sex life was back on track after previously confessing sex is ‘definitely not better with mum and dad bods’.
The former Strictly Come Dancing professionals admitted that their bedroom activities had hit an all-time low after the couple become ‘obese’.
Ola said their ‘bellies got in their way’ of their romance the previous year before they shredded the pounds with their own fitness plan, Dance Shred.
She cheekily gushed that her partner’s slimmed down figure has boosted the appearance of what he’s packing in his underwear.
She told The Sun: ‘Well, let’s face it. It’s much more pleasant nowadays, isn’t it? The bellies don’t jiggle as much as they used to.’
The split comes just three years after they revealed their plans to renew their vows at Elvis chapel during 20th anniversary trip to Las Vegas.
Speaking to The Sun in 2023, the pair enthused over their upcoming getaway to mark the special occasion and admitted that they just might end up getting hitched again.
James said, ‘You never know where you’re gonna end up after a few drinks. We used to go there loads before Ella was born and we like letting our hair down every now and again.
‘We might end up somewhere saying, “I do,” he confessed while Ola chimed in, ‘At the Elvis chapel!’
James and Polish-born beauty Ola first met at a dance competition in Blackpool in 1999 and married four years later.
They were initially dance partners before their professional relationship developed into romance, James proposed two years later and the couple tied the knot in October 2003.
The pair shot to fame as professionals on BBC One celebrity competition Strictly Come Dancing, which they both joined in series four back in 2006.
James bowed out of the show after season 11 in 2013, while Ola left at the end of series 13 in 2015.
