Ola and James Jordan have begun a 'trial separation'
TV stars Ola and James Jordan have begun a trial separation.
Ola and James Jordan have separated.
The 43-year-old ballroom dancer and James, 48, have released a statement, confirming that they "began a trial separation some time ago" after more than 20 years of marriage.
Their representative, Vickie White, 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."
The former couple - who are best known for their time on Strictly Come Dancing - first started dating in 1999 and they tied the knot in 2003.
A source has claimed that the news has come as a "shock" to their family and friends.
The insider told The Sun newspaper: "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. 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 previously admitted that married life is tougher than some people realise.
The Strictly Come Dancing star explained that life isn't as easy as social media posts might suggest.
She said: "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."
