Ola Jordan has opened up about enduring some of her “darkest days” in the wake of her marriage breakdown with fellow dancer James Jordan.
The 43-year-old former Strictly Come Dancing professional posted a selfie on Instagram on Friday with her six-year-old daughter Ella, describing the child as “my little ray of sunshine”.
“There have been moments this summer when my heart has felt heavier than I ever imagined it could,” she wrote.
“Life has changed in ways I never expected, and some days have been incredibly tough.”
BBC Strictly: Ola Jordan (left) starred in BBC Strictly from 2006 to 2015, while James Jordan (right) featured from 2006 to 2013 | GETTY
The Polish-born dancer said that amid the upheaval, her daughter had remained her anchor. “But through all of the uncertainty, one thing has remained constant, my beautiful girl Ella,” she added.
She described their summer together spent “making memories” as “my greatest comfort.”
The couple first crossed paths at a dance competition in 1999 and married four years later in 2003.
Both accomplished ballroom dancers and choreographers, they went on to become one of the most recognisable partnerships in British television.
Their journey to parenthood was a difficult one, with the pair enduring a well-documented three-year battle with fertility before conceiving Ella through IVF.
Earlier this month, the Jordans confirmed they had gone their separate ways after 22 years of marriage, releasing a joint statement on Instagram.
The announcement revealed that James had already “moved out of the family home some time ago.”
They described the end of their relationship as “incredibly painful and emotional” for both of them.
James and Ola Jordan have been together for 26 years | GETTY
The pair rose to fame in 2006 when they joined the professional lineup on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Ola remained on the programme until 2015, partnering celebrities such as Sid Owen, Robbie Savage and Steve Backshall, and lifting the Glitterball trophy with Chris Hollins in 2009.
James departed the show in 2013, having been paired with the likes of Vanessa Feltz, Alex Jones, Denise Van Outen and Pamela Stephenson.
Away from the dancefloor, the couple appeared together on programmes including All Star Mr & Mrs, Through The Keyhole, Celebrity Coach Trip and Dancing On Wheels.
BBC Strictly: James Jordan and his wife Ola were once pros on the show
| PA
Ola took part in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2016, while James triumphed on Dancing On Ice in 2019 alongside Finnish skater Alexandra Schauman and also featured on Celebrity Big Brother.
In a recent appearance on ITV’s This Morning, James acknowledged that “it’s been a tough few years” between himself and Ola.
Throughout their time in the public eye, the couple have been notably candid about their personal struggles, including what they described as “heartbreaking” fertility difficulties and the pain of suffering a miscarriage.
“She may not realise it now, but she has been my little ray of sunshine through some of my darkest days,” Ola wrote of her daughter.
She added: “This summer hasn’t been the one I imagined, but I’m choosing to focus on what truly matters her, our memories, and all the love between us.”
Ola concluded her post by expressing gratitude to those who have “shown me kindness or simply reminded me that I’m not alone”, saying their support has “meant more to me than you will ever know.”