Louise Redknapp: ‘Strictly Come Dancing DIDN'T end marriage to Jamie - it takes more than that’

The couple called time on their relationship in 2017
Nineteen years: The couple parted ways three years ago
Getty Images
Safeeyah Kazi15 April 2019
The Weekender

Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and theatre ticket deals

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Louise Redknapp has said that her stint on Strictly Come Dancing was not to blame for the breakdown of her marriage.

The former Eternal singer, who was partnered with Kevin Clifton in 2016, credited the contest with putting the “fire back in [her] belly” but insisted it didn’t end her 19-year marriage to ex-footballer Jamie Redknapp.

She told the Guardian: “Strictly put the fire back in my belly, but it didn’t break up my relationship. After 20 years of marriage, it takes a lot more than that.”

Redknapp also opened up about giving up her music career, which she has since revived, to be a mother and wife, admitting that she felt “lonely”.

Split: Louise and Jamie Redknapp divorced in December 2017
Chris Jackson/Getty Images

“For the first seven or eight years, it was quite nice to not have to worry about where your record’s going, or if people like you,” she said. “But as time went on, I’d drop the kids off at school, go home, walk the dogs and then go home and think: ‘I have five hours until school pick-up.’ That’s a long day.

“It was fine when they were young, because I’d pick them up at 12. Then it changed; they’re at school and doing sport, Jamie was doing his thing, and there was pure panic. I was lonely and I felt like I had nothing to say.”

The singer went on to admit that she should have been open about wanting to return to work.

Good friends: Louise Redknapp and Kevin Clifton on Strictly Come Dancing  
Joe Giddens/PA

“I wish I’d spoken up and said how I felt, but I thought everyone would think I was nuts and say: ‘Why are you low? Look at you, you’re so lucky,’” Redknapp added.

She previously told how she is forced to use her only day off in the week from Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5, to take her sons Charles, 14 and Beau, 10 to rugby practice.

She joked that Charles “doesn’t even appreciate it” and often asks her “why” she is there.

Redknapp married the football pundit in 1998 and filed for a divorce back in 2017, saying that their marriage had broken down because of her husband's “unreasonable behaviour”.

Discussing her split in an interview earlier this year, she admitted that he is still her “best friend” despite the “tough" divorce.

Louise Redknapp's 9 to 5 return - In pictures

1/7

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in