Ola Jordan has admitted her ‘heart felt heavier than she ever imagined’ as she reflected on her split from husband James Jordan.
The now exes were Strictly’s longest-standing couple, spending 26 years together. They started dating in 1999 and married in 2003 before announcing their divorce in a joint statement earlier this month.
And while James, 48, has since discussed the split during an appearance on This Morning and his podcast Manopaause, Ola, 43, broke her silence for the first time on Friday.
She wrote a candid message on Instagram: “There have been moments this summer where my heart has felt heavier than I ever imagined.
“Life has changed in ways I never expected, and some days have been incredibly hard.”
Praising the couple’s six-year-old daughter for helping her through it, she continued: ‘But despite all the uncertainty, one thing has remained constant: my beautiful girl Ella.
Ola Jordan has said ‘my heart has felt heavier than I ever thought it could’ as she reflected on an ‘incredibly tough’ summer in an Instagram post on Friday following her split from husband James
“Spending this summer vacation with my little girl, making memories, cuddling, laughing until our stomachs ache and just enjoying every precious moment together has been my greatest comfort.
“She may not realize it now, but she has been my little ray of sunshine through some of my darkest days.
“This summer isn’t the one I imagined, but I’m choosing to focus on what really matters: her, our memories and all the love between us.”
Thanking her family, friends and fans, she added: “And to everyone who has messaged me, checked in on me, shown me kindness or just reminded me that I’m not alone.
‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your love and support have meant more to me than you will ever know.”
Ola and James decided to end their relationship for good after a trial separation ‘some time ago’, which saw James leave their family home in Kent and remove his wedding ring.
Last week, James said he’s “going through a midlife crisis” in the wake of his divorce said he found the last few years “really tough” and was “struggling with life at the moment.”
In a trailer for his new podcast Manopause with Brendan Cole, James said: “I’m going through a midlife crisis. The past few years have been very difficult for me. I’m not afraid to admit it. I’ll throw my hands up and say that I’m struggling with life right now.
“So many different things, with career choices, waking up and not having a goal, things like that.
“Manopause is for the middle-aged man who is having a bit of a hard time and hopefully we can help ourselves and you at the same time.”
On Instagram she wrote a candid message: ‘Life has changed in ways I never expected, and some days have been incredibly hard’ (the couple pictured at their wedding)
James also appeared on This Morning, where he told how he spends his evenings ‘sitting alone in a one-bed flat watching TV’.
‘It’s been a tough few years. I moved a few months ago,” James told hosts Angela Scanlon and Craig Doyle.
“It’s hard for me to talk about it and I’m not going to talk about it too much because I don’t think it’s fair if she’s not there too.”
Brendan said he “checked in” with his good friend every day, which James said has been a lifeline in recent months.
“Knowing that there are people you can talk to… otherwise I’ll be sitting by myself in a one-bedroom apartment at night, watching TV and asking, ‘What’s going on?’.”
James also referred to reports that he told his wife he needed space and was moving out of their five-bedroom family home, explaining: ‘I just feel like I need that time to find myself again. People can say, ‘It’s really selfish of you.’
The professional dancer added that his new venture, the podcast that focuses on men’s mental health, has been a great tool to help him talk and hopefully inspire others.
“Women can watch and listen and hear the struggles men go through and they can talk about that with their husband or their significant other,” he explained.
In the shared statement released over the weekend, James explained that his “mental health has not been good for some time.”
The joint statement began: “After 26 years together, this is something we never thought we would share. After recent press reports about our relationship and after receiving messages asking if everything is okay, we feel it is important to speak directly rather than let speculation or rumors tell our story.
“We’ve always tried to be open and honest with the people who have supported us over the years and we think it’s only right that this update comes from us.”
“Right now we’re taking some time off while we work through some very difficult personal challenges. (James) moved out of the parental home some time ago. This has been an incredibly painful and emotional journey for both of us and it was certainly not an easy decision.”
They went on to say that their “absolute priority” is their six-year-old daughter Ella.
They said: ‘Our absolute priority, now and always, is our beautiful daughter Ella. She is central to everything we do. We are committed to co-parenting her with all the love, care and stability she deserves.
“Personally speaking (James), my mental health has not been good for a while. I’ve been struggling more than I’ve let people see and I’m taking the time I need to get myself to a healthier place, both for myself and for Ella.
“Neither of us are in a good place right now. We’re both doing our best to navigate one of the most difficult chapters of our lives and we ask people to remember that there are real people and real emotions behind every headline, every comment, and every message.
‘We don’t know exactly what the future will bring. For now, we’re just taking things one day at a time and doing what we both think is best for ourselves, our family and most importantly… Ella.
“We are incredibly grateful for the love, kindness and care that so many of you have shown us over the years.”
