Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Ola Jordan has responded to claims her husband James Jordan – another of the show’s ex pros – cheated on her, stating: “I am truly devastated.”
After 22 years of marriage, the pair announced their separation in June, with Ola stating that “life has changed in ways I never expected” and that ‘there have been moments this summer when my heart has felt heavier than I ever imagined it could”.
It was reported this week that James had an affair with Russian dancer Polina Mayer, whom he is now seeing, and in response, Ola told HELLO: “I’ve not just lost my husband – I’ve lost my best friend and my business partner all in one go.
“It’s difficult for me to describe what happened between us because this wasn’t my decision. It came as a shock to me. These things often build up over a period of time and are not straightforward.”
She continued: As a woman, you know these things in your gut, but now my worst fears have been confirmed.”
Jordan’s spokesperson denied that his romantic involvement with Mayer, his new dance partner, had any overlap with his marriage: “I can confirm that James and Polina have grown closer in recent weeks since separating from their respective partners.”
The professional ballroom dancers originally met at a dance competition in 1999 and married in 2003. They share daughter Ella, who was conceived through IVF following a widely publicised three-year fertility struggle.
Earlier this year, James, 48, appeared on ITV daytime series This Morning and said “it’s been a tough few years” between him and Ola, 44.
Their split was confirmed on Instagram, which revealed James “moved out of the family home some time ago”. They described the situation as “incredibly painful and emotional”.
The pair became household names in 2006, when they joined BBC entertainment programme Strictly Come Dancing as professionals.
Ola featured on the hit show until 2015, where she danced with celebrities including Sid Owen, Robbie Savage and Steve Backshall, and won the series with 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.
James competed on Strictly 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 won Dancing On Ice in 2019, competing with Finnish skater Alexandra Schauman.
Ola and James have frequently been open about their relationship, including their “heartbreaking” fertility issues and suffering a miscarriage.
Additional reporting by Agencies