Strictly's Ola and James Jordan have parted ways

Former Strictly stars Ola and James Jordan have announced that they have parted ways after 22 years of marriage.

On Friday, James and Ola's representative took to social media to announce their separation and asked for privacy during this difficult time.

'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.'

A source said the news has come as a 'huge shock' to family and friends.

They told The Sun: '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.'

James and Ola welcomed their daughter, Ella, in February 2020 via IVF following a three-year fertility battle.