Arabic version: أولا وجيمس جوردان يؤكدان انفصالهما

According to BBC News, former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers James and Ola Jordan have confirmed they have separated after more than 20 years of marriage. The pair, who married in October 2003, said they were taking time apart while working through “very difficult personal challenges”.

In a joint post shared on their Instagram accounts, the couple described the decision as an “incredibly painful and emotional journey” that had not been easy. They said James had moved out of the family home some time ago and that they did not know exactly what the future would hold.

They asked for “kindness, empathy and a little privacy” as they worked through the situation as a family. Their manager, Vickie White, had previously said that James and Ola had begun a trial separation some time ago. She said their shared priority remained co-parenting their daughter, Ella, and putting her wellbeing first.

Ola won the Open Polish Championship in 1999, aged 17, and became James’s dance partner in March 2000. She moved to England a month later. James appeared on Strictly from 2006 to 2013, while Ola remained on the programme until 2015. Ola’s celebrity partners included Steve Backshall and Iwan Thomas; James danced with Gabby Logan and Alex Jones.