Chloe Madeley reveals the one thing she tried to help repair her marriage with James Haskell: ‘We’re still in hell’

Chloe Madeley has revealed that she and James Haskell have been undergoing couples counseling in a bid to save their marriage.

The personal trainer, 36, admitted on her ITV2 reality show, Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair, that their relationship came under enormous strain during the 2020 Covid lockdowns and they sought professional help.

Ultimately, their marriage couldn’t be saved when the couple announced this weekend that they had decided to go their separate ways.

Speaking on the show – which was filmed a month before their split – Chloe reflected on their past struggles as they were filmed recording a podcast.

She explained: “We’ve been going through a really tough time during lockdown – our marriage has been really tested,” prompting James to say: “Things aren’t much better now!”

Chloe joked back: “I know, I’m still in hell,” before adding: “We did couples counseling at the time.

‘I think it was my way of allaying my fears about the fact that people thought we were a great couple, but we were a very tempestuous couple and we would go through some really tough times.

‘I like that – I know it sounds crazy – but I do think it’s important that people can identify with what is normal in a relationship, what is not so normal, where the boundaries are…’

Earlier when discussing the decision to participate in the recording, she confessed: ‘I’m hesitant about doing a couples podcast with James because we’re not this kind of happy, smiley, high-achieving young person.

‘We clash all the time, we don’t fully agree with each other and it’s quite intimidating to let people hear that.

“I like to lift the curtain like no, we’re all struggling, relationships are hard. It’s nice to remind people that relationships are hard work.”

Before recording the podcast together, Chloe had become irritated that her husband was unprepared.

She explained: “You’ve done what you love to do, you’ve said ‘here’s an idea that I really want to do and I think it’s going to be great’, now the day has arrived, you’ve done absolutely no preparation for It.

“I was in bed until 11:30 last night writing treatments for the show.”

She added to the camera: ‘Classic. James hasn’t prepared anything for the podcast, he insisted we do that, so obviously it’s all on me and I’m quite nervous about this right now.”

The personal trainer revealed she had to make a work visit before filming the podcast and continued to open Zoom as James continued to chat with her in the background.

She said to the camera: ‘When I’m trying to work and James is just talking, talking, talking – I’m like not right now – I have two methods – silence him and keep quieting him until he gets annoyed and then just ignore him .’

James snapped back, “You’re just going to invade my space while I’m eating breakfast. It’s a bit like your own podcast, a bit all over the place, a bit sloppy, not very interesting.”

As Chloe continued to shush him, it switched back to her talking to the camera as she explained, “If James is contributing something of value, I wouldn’t shut him down, but he’s making a joke about a work conversation that isn’t appropriate and he needs to talk it out!’

After storming out of the room, James began to moan, “She shushes me like I’m a dog or like I’m a baby.” I’m like, ‘Hold me still again and that’s the last thing you’ll ever do.’

Chloe further explained: ‘The difficulty in me and James’ relationship comes from the fact that we both think we are in charge.

‘The relationships I know are very calm and quiet, there is a dominant and a submissive.

“James and I are both dominant, so it’s definitely like World War III.”

The scenes were filmed a month before Chloe and James split, with the couple formally announcing their split with a joint statement last weekend.

The couple, who married in 2018, had fueled speculation about their relationship after the personal trainer emerged without her wedding ring while partying with friends – shortly after the former rugby player was pictured chatting to a mystery blonde outside a nightclub in London.

In a joint update shared on Instagram, they announced: “Chloe and I mutually decided to separate at the end of September 2023.

‘We had no intention of releasing a statement at the time – especially while the television show was airing – but the continued speculation about our marriage has unfortunately forced our hand.

“Other than this statement, we will not speak publicly about this matter and would like to request privacy at this time.

‘Our sole focus now is on our beautiful daughter. We will continue to co-parent with nothing but love.”

James shared his own statement on Instagram, adding: ‘It is with great sadness that I write this post, but unfortunately in the world we live in it has to be done.

“My priority is the happiness and safety of my daughter and Chloe. For that reason I will make no further comment.”

A source told MailOnline: ‘James is still living at the family home in London, he returned on Monday and was still there yesterday morning.’

A friend of the couple added: “It’s all so strange, and it all seems quite rum that Chloe has done a round of interviews and spoken very openly about her life and marriage, but she neglected to say that she and James had broken up despite her. television program that is all about her family life.’