James Haskell has candidly reflected on his past behaviour during his marriage to Chloe Madeley, expressing regret over how he handled certain aspects of their relationship. The former rugby international and television personality Chloe Madeley, daughter of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, married in 2018 but separated five years later.
The couple now share a friendly co-parenting partnership for their three-year-old daughter, Bodhi, although Chloe has acknowledged that reaching this point was challenging.
Speaking on the Nolans Uncensored podcast, the 41-year-old Haskell acknowledged the difficulties his rugby career posed to their marriage. “In my relationship, you know, did she marry a rugby player that was for basically 11 months a year playing and having no weekends and couldn’t plan? Yes,” he said. He further explained, “Did she think I think when I retired that I was going to be around all the time? But I was always a workaholic. So that was always going to be quite tricky.”
READ MORE: A38 Closed Following Lorry Fire Ahead of Rush Hour
READ MORE: Tesla Driver Dies in Collision with Parked Lorry
Haskell, who has since become a DJ, also admitted that after their daughter was born, he was absent more often than he should have been, revealing he made “12 trips to Ibiza” within one year. Reflecting, he questioned, “And should I have done all them? No. Should I have been around more?”
“We can all look back on past relationships and go, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have done that’ or ‘We should have noticed that and talked about it’. That was only one element of it.”
Following the end of his marriage, James had a short-lived relationship with Big Brother star Sara McLean, which reportedly ended just two days after going public. He also appeared on the show Celebs Go Dating, participating in several dates but ultimately leaving the programme without a match.
When a fan recently asked Chloe on Instagram how she felt watching James kiss other women on the show, she replied that she had no concerns as long as he was happy. Previously, she had commented on speculation regarding his participation in the show, saying, “If true he’ll be a highly entertaining watch, I know that much.”
Chloe has also shared her views on dating, revealing last year that she “cannot think of anything worse” than starting a new relationship. Replying to a fan, she said, “To me, the word ‘date’ suggests that you’re actively trying to find someone to settle down with. So, in that regard, no, I don’t date. But I’m not living in a self imposed convent either [laughing face emoji]. I just don’t have any intention of finding a boyfriend. I honestly cannot think of anything worse.”
Despite their past difficulties - which Chloe once described as a “toxic” marriage and “the worst breakup imaginable” - she has expressed surprise at having developed a friendship with James since their separation. The couple continue to co-parent amicably while focusing on their daughter.