James Haskell has openly reflected on his past marriage to Chloe Madeley, expressing regret over certain aspects of his behaviour during their relationship. The former rugby international married Chloe, daughter of television presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, in 2018. However, the couple parted ways five years later.
They share a three-year-old daughter, Bodhi, and have since established a friendly co-parenting arrangement. Chloe has admitted that reaching this amicable dynamic took considerable effort, especially after what she described as “the worst breakup imaginable.”
Speaking on the Nolans Uncensored podcast, James, 41, acknowledged the challenges that affected their marriage, particularly his demanding career. “In my relationship, you know, did she marry a rugby player who was essentially playing for 11 months a year, with no weekends and an unpredictable schedule? Yes,” he said.
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He added, “Did she think when I retired that I would be around all the time? But I was always a workaholic. So that was always going to be quite tricky.”
James, who has transitioned from sports to a career as a DJ, also confessed to being frequently absent after their daughter’s birth. He revealed that he made “12 trips to Ibiza” within a single year and questioned whether that was appropriate. “And should I have done all them? No. Should I have been around more?” he pondered.
Reflecting on past relationships, he observed, “We can all look back and think, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have done that’ or ‘We should have noticed that and talked about it.’ That was only one element of it.”
Since their separation, James briefly dated Big Brother star Sara McLean, though their relationship reportedly ended just two days after it was made public. He also participated in the television series Celebs Go Dating, going on several dates but ultimately leaving without finding a match.
When a follower recently asked Chloe on Instagram how she felt about James kissing other women on the show, she responded that she had no concerns as long as he was happy. She had previously commented on speculation regarding his appearance on the programme, saying, “If true he’ll be a highly entertaining watch, I know that much.”
Chloe has also spoken about her feelings on dating, expressing little interest in finding a new partner. Last year, she stated, “I cannot think of anything worse” than embarking on a new relationship. In response to a fan, she wrote, “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 difficult past, Chloe seems to have been surprised by the friendship she now shares with James, especially considering the marriage was, in her words, “toxic” and the breakup extremely painful.
“We can all look back and think, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have done that’ or ‘We should have noticed that and talked about it.'”
This candid reflection highlights the complexities of their past relationship and the efforts they have both made to co-parent amicably.