STRICTLY’S longest loved-up couple James and Ola Jordan have split after 22 years of marriage.
James, 48, and Ola, 43, told friends they could no longer make their relationship work and are the latest married couple to fall foul of the show’s dreaded relationship curse.
Strictly’s Ola and James Jordan have split after 22 years of marriage Credit: Rex
James and Ola on their wedding day in 2003 Credit: Instagram
The pair started dating in 1999 and were due to celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary this October.
But pals say the romance “came to a head” and that James and Ola, who share daughter Ella, are devastated it has come to this.
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A source said: “It’s been a huge shock to their friends and family because they always seemed like such a solid couple.
“But they know in the long run it is the right decision.
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“They have been together for almost 30 years and while they love and care for each other, things have changed.
“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.
“Ola has taken her wedding ring off, as well as the engagement ring James gave her in 2001.
Ola and James joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2006 Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Stalwart Strictly couple Ola and James in 2012 Credit: Rex Features
“Their focus now is on Ella and keeping things settled for her.”
The pair’s manager and friend Vickie White confirmed the news, saying 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.”
The Jordans have previously been open about navigating their long relationship, with James saying: “Marriage can be like a job sometimes, you’ve got to work at it.
“I feel sometimes people are quick to give up on something and think the grass is always greener on the other side.”
Polish-born Ola added: “It’s not all beautiful. Sometimes you can look at people’s posts think, ‘Oh they’ve got perfect lives’, but it’s not like that.
“No one’s got a perfect marriage. It’s a work in progress and if two people want to be together, they’ll make it happen.”
Speculation about the couple’s relationship started earlier this year, when their fans noticed they were spending less time together.
Last month James shared pictures with Ella at a Paw Patrol movie premiere in London, but minus Ola.
Separately, Ola was pictured with Ella at the opening of Paw Patrol Land at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, with no sign of James. One of his followers commented: “Have they separated?”
Another replied: “I was feeling the same. Very sad if they have. Love their little family.”
James shared pictures with daughter Ella at a Paw Patrol movie premiere in London, but minus Ola
Separately, Ola was pictured with Ella at the opening of Paw Patrol Land at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
James and Ola downsized from their £2.5million Kent mansion to a five-bedroom home nearby in 2023.
They had been doing up the house and posting the results.
Friends said James and Ola’s split was still “fresh” and admitted they were unsure what the future would look like.
A source added: “James and Ola are thinking about Ella and how to support her through this. The family home will remain that while they decide what to do next.”
The pair met in 1999 at a dance competition in Blackpool before becoming professional partners.
They married in 2003 and in 2006 joined Strictly.
Ola was crowned winner in 2009 with her partner, BBC sports presenter Chris Hollins.
During the Jordans’ stint on the show, the Strictly curse ended a number of high-profile romances.
Brendan Cole and fiancée Camilla Dallerup split after the first series.
Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer divorced while on the show, along with Neil and Katya Jones.
James said Ola kept his eyes from wandering and told The Jattvibe of the pros and their celeb partners: “You’re very close. Day One, you come in, you just met them and you’re rubbing your crown jewels up against them.
“It’s normal in our world but not for everyone else and you’re so close to each other, dancing sexy, and there’s nice music and you’re training with each other for eight hours a day, so if there is a little bit of chemistry, something’s going to happen.”
James quit Strictly in June 2014 but Ola stayed on Credit: Martin Cullum
Ola stepped down from Strictly after saying she felt ‘too old’ to continue and wanted to start a family Credit: Getty Images
James quit the show in June 2014, after turning down a lesser role offered by BBC bosses which would have seen him miss out on a celebrity partner.
Ola stayed on, but that year was caught in a bullying storm with her celeb partner, BBC wildlife presenter Steve Backshall.
Steve later insisted he had not been bullied by Ola, with James blasting the BBC and claiming they kept quiet over the allegations because they wanted her to leave.
He wrote at the time: “The source said the BBC are fed up with Ola’s popularity and are trying to turn the public against her. Nice.
“Apparently Steve has been advised not to tweet about it because it will draw more attention.
“I was there when she cried on the phone to the BBC asking them to stop it. They didn’t.”
Ola stepped down the following year and said she felt “too old” to continue and wanted to start a family.
In the years that followed, the pair turned to IVF to welcome Ella in 2020.
They later launched fitness programme Dance Shred, having piled on weight after becoming parents.
Ola confessed their weight gain almost saw them split, telling The Jattvibe their “bellies” were getting in the way of their sex life.
She lost more than 3st and James almost 4st after overhauling their diet and exercise regimes.
SPLIT-LY DANCERS
2004: Pro Brendan Cole split with Camilla Dallerup.
2007: Flavia Cacace dumped her fellow pro Vincent Simone then dated celeb Matt Di Angelo.
2009: Boxer Joe Calzaghe split from his girlfriend and began a relationship with Kristina Rihanoff.
2010: Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvinstev started dating but she dumped him three years on.
2010: Flavia and Matt broke up and she went on to marry her celeb partner Jimi Mistry.
2013: Rachel Riley split with her hubby after meeting Pasha Kovalev.
2013: Rugby’s Ben Cohen divorced and paired up with Kristina. They had a daughter together.
2015: Georgia May Foote split with boyfriend Sean Ward then dated pro Giovanni Pernice.
2016: Contestant Louise Redknapp ended her ten-year marriage to ex-footballer Jamie.
2017: Tensions between Kevin and Karen Clifton led to split.
2018: Seann Walsh snogged pro partner Katya Jones and split with his girlfriend. Stacey Dooley left her boyfriend and now shares a daughter with Kevin Clifton.
2026: Ex-host Tess Daly and Vernon Kay split after 22 years of marriage.
