Louise Redknapp reveals she's living apart from husband Jamie after feeling like a ‘Stepford Wife’

Louise praised Daisy Lowe for helping her to regain her confidence as a performer
Time apart: Louise Redknapp is focusing on herself
Rex
Emma Powell10 October 2017
The Weekender

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Louise Redknapp has confirmed she is no longer living with her husband Jamie, weeks after revealing that the couple had hit “hard times”.

Louise, 42, said starring on Strictly Come Dancing last year forced her to revaluate her life and made her realise she couldn’t go back to being a “Stepford wife”.

Speaking to Stella she said: “He’s an amazing man and we’ve had 20 good years together. I know he’s trying to understand that I do need to do this.

“People might look at me and think I’ve got everything, but a sweeping staircase and designer handbag doesn’t really do it for me.”

Speaking about the future of their relationship she added: “I have no idea what is going to happen, all I know is that I fought for this, it’s taken everything, but this is something I need to do – for me.”

Louise – who insisted neither party is pushing for a divorce – said taking part in Strictly was the first “selfish” thing she has done since becoming a mother to her and Jamie’s sons Charley, 12, and Beau, nine.

She credited Daisy Lowe for helping her to regain her confidence by encouraging her to show off her figure on the ballroom show.

“Daisy is a mate who is an incredible cheerleader at a time when I’ve needed a lot of support,” she said.

Hard times: Louise and Jamie Redknapp pictured in October 2016
Chris Jackson/Getty

“Daisy loves other women and she’s all about body confidence

“She completely believes in following your passion and fulfilling yourself as a woman, which I find really inspiring.

“It has made me realise how controlled I’ve been about the way I thought about myself for so long.”

Louise recently re-launched her singing career and is currently playing Sally Bowles in Rufus Norris’ production of Cabaret.

She said she felt “physically sick” at the thought of never feeling the buzz she got from taking part in Strictly and knew that she wanted to “go back on stage in front of an audience”.

She continued: “I’d become a Stepford Wife, wanting to be perfect at it.

“It was only when I agreed to do Strictly Come Dancing that I realised I couldn’t just go back to that.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 - In pictures

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