Strictly Come Dancing’s James and Ola Jordan have broken their silence after it was announced on Friday that they have ended their 22-year marriage after a trial separation ‘some time ago’.
The couple shared a joint statement 24 hours later on his Instagram and spoke about his struggles with his mental health and their ‘incredibly painful and emotional decision’ to part ways.
They 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.
‘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.’
They continued in the post: ‘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.
‘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.
‘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.
The couple ended: ‘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.’
