HEARTBROKEN Ola Jordan fled the UK for a holiday with her six-year-old daughter as news of her crumbling marriage to Strictly dancer James broke.
Now she is said to have told friends the worrying truth behind the rumoured reconciliation hopes and admits “I can’t forgive him”.
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The Sun revealed last month how Strictly favourites Ola and James had separated after 22 years of marriage.
While James has thrown himself into working on his new podcast with his former co-star, pro-dancer Brendan Cole, Ola has been spending quality time with their daughter on a well-needed break abroad.
Ola and James have not revealed the reason for their shock split, but worried friends say Ola, 43, is taking it “really hard” as the trial separation looks to be becoming permanent.
One told The Sun: “Ola is completely broken-hearted.
“Her world has been turned upside down.
“She is still in love with James but can’t see a way of getting past this.
“Ola doesn’t think she can forgive him.”
James is living in a one-bed flat close to the family home, confessing he is going through a “mid-life crisis”.
The 48-year-old recently opened up about having an identity crisis and is questioning who he is.
Appearing on This Morning, he confirmed he is now living separately from his family in a flat alone, admitting: “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.”
The pair started dating in 1999 and were due to celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary this October.
But the marriage hit the rocks earlier this year and 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.”
James quit Strictly back in 2014 after turning down a reduced role which was offered by show bosses. Ola followed suit the following year.
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In the years that followed, the pair turned to IVF to welcome Ella in 2020.
They had tried for a baby for two years. Then, after one round of IVF, they welcomed their “miracle” tot in February last year.
Despite longing to be a family for more than a decade, they are now living apart – and friends fear the situation is likely to be long-term.
One of Ola’s pals said: “Ola is focusing on caring for their daughter who has been her guiding light.
“She wanted a baby so badly and feels so grateful to have Ella by her side.
“Both James and Ola are determined to co-parent together while they figure things out, but Ella is getting older now and is obviously starting to ask questions about where her daddy is.
“They fought so hard to have Ella, so it’s devastating to see their family of three falling apart.”
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.
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“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.”
Despite the Strictly curse ending a number of high-profile romances during the Jordans’ stint on the show, the couple remained strong.
Brendan Cole and fiancée Camilla Dallerup split after the first series and Kevin Clifton and Karen Hauer divorced while on the show, along with Neil and Katya Jones.
However, they admitted that they almost split after piling on weight when they became parents – claiming their “bellies” were getting in the way of their sex life.
They later launched fitness programme Dance Shred having lost more than 3st and James almost 4st after overhauling their diet and exercise regimes.
Clues they’d hit the rocks again emerged this summer when both James and Ola attended red carpet events without the other.
Giving an update on how she’s doing this week, Ola posted poolside on holiday with Ella.
She told fans: “There have been moments this summer when my heart has felt heavier than I ever imagined it could.
“Life has changed in ways I never expected, and some days have been incredibly tough.
“But through all of the uncertainty, one thing has remained constant, my beautiful girl Ella.
“Spending these summer holidays with my baby girl, making memories, having cuddles, laughing until our tummies hurt and simply enjoying every precious moment together has been my greatest comfort.
“She may not realise it now, but she has been my little ray of sunshine through some of my darkest days.”
Meanwhile James said on his Manopause podcast: “I’m going through a midlife crisis.
“The last few years, for me, have been really tough. I’m not afraid to admit it. I put my hands up and say I’m struggling with life at the minute.
“So many different things, with career choices, waking up and not having purpose, things like that. So Manopause is for the middle-aged man that’s struggling a little bit and hopefully we’re going to be able to help ourselves and help you at the same time.”