Strictly Come Dancing’s Ola Jordan returns 11 years after show exit and split from James

Former Strictly Come Dancing favourite Ola Jordan is set for an appearance on the show over a decade after she quit the show

Ola Jordan is set for a sensational Strictly return over a decade after she left the BBC contest. The professional dance is making her comeback on It Takes Two, with the revelation coming at the end of Thursday’s episode.

The show’s hosts said: “On Friday’s Week 3 It Takes Two: Graeme, Tabby and Delta. On the Friday Panel: former pro Ola Jordan, Strictly Alumni Sarah Hadland and Dr Ranj.”

Ola, 44, called time on her Strictly career in 2015 after 10 years of competing. Her standout moment came in 2009 when she was able to lift the coveted Glitterball trophy alongside sports reporter Chris Hollins.

But lately she’s been having an emotional time. Her marriage to fellow pro ballroom star James Jordan broke down after 22 years. They had been together for 26 years.

The news became public knowledge in August, with Ola said to have been left “heartbroken”. They shared their decision in a joint statement on their Instagram accounts.

She revealed they were “taking some time apart as we work through very difficult personal challenges.” They added that their “shared priority” remained co-parenting their daughter, Ella.

Ola quickly went abroad with their six-year-old daughter after the news broke. While rumours suggested the potential of a reconciliation, she has reportedly told friends that she “can’t forgive him”.

A source told The Sun at the time: “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.”

The split comes shortly after James admitted he was struggling. “I’m going through a midlife crisis,” he said. “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.”

He went on: “So many different things, with career choices, waking up and not knowing [my] purpose, things like that.

“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.”

He was speaking to Craig Doyle and Angela Scanlon and went on to give an update. He said: “I’m OK. It’s been a tough few years and obviously myself and Ola, I’ve moved out a few months ago and it has been really tough.

“I find it hard to talk about and I’m not going to speak about it too much because I don’t think it’s fair on her. The fact that she’s not here as well to speak about it.”

“I’m now sitting in a one-bedroom apartment on my own at night, watching TV, going ‘What is going on?’ But I just need that time to find myself again. People could say ‘It’s really selfish of you too…’ but I just felt like I…yeah.”