Former Strictly professional James Jordan says split from Ola has been ‘tough’

Former Strictly Come Dancing professional James Jordan has said his split from partner Ola has been “a tough few years”.

The couple, who met at a dance competition in 1999 and tied the knot in 2003, announced they had split after 22 years of marriage earlier in August.

Both professional ballroom dancers and choreographers, the pair share a six-year-old daughter, Ella, who they conceived through IVF following a widely publicised three-year fertility struggle.

Ola Jordan and James Jordan attending The Legend of Tarzan European Premiere (Matt Crossick/PA)

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Speaking about the split on This Morning, Jordan said: “I’m okay.

“Yeah, I’m okay. It’s been a tough few years and obviously myself and Ola, I moved out a few months ago and it has been really tough.

“I find it hard to talk about and I’m not going to speak about it too much because I don’t think it’s fair on her, the fact that she is not here as well to speak about it.”

He said it has been helpful having people check in on him and “knowing that people are out there that you can talk to”.

He added: “Otherwise I’m now sitting in a one-bedroom apartment on my own at night watching TV, going, ‘what is going on?’

“But I just feel I need that time to find myself again.”

James Jordan and Ola Jordan and Earth Wind and Fire, during a results show for Strictly Come Dancing. (Guy Levy/BBC)

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The pair became household names in 2006, when they joined BBC entertainment programme Strictly Come Dancing as professionals.

James, 48, featured on the hit show until 2013 and was partnered with stars including Vanessa Feltz, Alex Jones, Denise Van Outen, and Pamela Stephenson.

He has also made TV appearances on celebrity versions of Total Wipeout and Splash!, on reality show Celebrity Big Brother, and was a regular panellist on The Wright Stuff.

James also won Dancing On Ice in 2019, competing with Finnish skater Alexandra Schauman.

James and Ola Jordan and their daughter Ella (Kieran Cleeves/PA)

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Ola, 43, competed on Strictly until 2015, where she danced with celebrities including DJ Spoony, Sid Owen, Robbie Savage, Steve Backshall and Iwan Thomas.

The Polish dancer also won the coveted Glitterball trophy during her tenure on the show, winning alongside TV personality Chris Hollins in 2009.

Her other TV appearances include All Star Mr & Mrs, Through The Keyhole, Celebrity Coach Trip and Dancing On Wheels – all with her husband.

Ola also competed on ITV reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2016 – but was the third star to be voted out of the jungle.

Ola and James have frequently been open about their relationship, including their “heartbreaking” fertility issues and suffering a miscarriage.