Former Strictly Come Dancing stars Ola, 43, and James Jordan, 48, have announced the end of their 22-year marriage following a trial separation. The pair were the BBC One celebrity competition's longest-standing couple after starting to date in 1999 and marrying in 2003, but they have now fallen victim to the Strictly curse.
They remain committed to co-parenting their six-year-old daughter, Ella. A representative for James and Ola Jordan 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. They would greatly appreciate your understanding as they navigate this difficult time."
A source told The Sun that the news came as a huge shock to friends and family because they always seemed like such a solid couple. The insider said that they know in the long run it is the right decision, adding that they have been together for almost 30 years and while they love and care for each other, things have changed.
The insider added: "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 source noted that Ola has taken off her wedding and engagement rings, with her last social media post featuring James dating back to April last year. The Daily Mail has contacted their representative for comment. The couple welcomed their daughter Ella in February 2020 via IVF following a three-year fertility battle.
Relationship struggles and public candour
The couple have long been open about the ups and downs in their decades-long romance, often discussing everything from disagreements to their sex life. Back in 2017, when they had been together for 18 years, James admitted on Lorraine that life with Ola had not always been easy, revealing: "Life isn’t all smooth sailing - we have had ups and downs."
Ola previously spoke about their relationship challenges, 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."
In July 2023, the pair revealed that their sex life was back on track after previously confessing that sex is "definitely not better with mum and dad bods." The former Strictly professionals admitted their bedroom activities hit an all-time low after becoming "obese", with Ola stating their bellies got in the way of their romance before they lost weight with their Dance Shred fitness plan. Ola 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."
Vow renewals and career history
The split comes three years after the couple revealed plans to renew their vows at an Elvis chapel during their 20th anniversary trip to Las Vegas in 2023. Speaking to The Sun at the time, 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'", while Ola added: "At the Elvis chapel!"
James and Polish-born 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, leading to James proposing two years later and the couple tying the knot in October 2003.
The pair shot to fame as professionals on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing, which both joined in series four in 2006. James departed the show after season 11 in 2013, while Ola left at the end of series 13 in 2015.
