Ola Jordan is set to return to the Strictly Come Dancing franchise through its companion program, It Takes Two, more than a decade after she left the main competition.
The announcement was made at the end of Thursday's episode, with presenters confirming that the 44-year-old former professional dancer will join the Friday panel during Week 3.
She will appear alongside Strictly alumni Sarah Hadland and Dr Ranj, while Graeme, Tabby and Delta are also scheduled to feature in the episode.
Ola left Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 after 10 years as a professional dancer.
One of her career highlights came in 2009, when she won the competition's Glitterball trophy with sports reporter Chris Hollins.
Personal challenges behind the return
The announcement comes amid changes in her personal life.
Ola and James, who had been together for 26 years and married for 22, made their separation public in August through a joint statement shared on their Instagram accounts.
The couple said they were "taking some time apart as we work through very difficult personal challenges."
They also emphasized that their "shared priority" remained raising their six-year-old daughter, Ella, together.
Following the announcement, Ola traveled abroad with their daughter, while speculation about a possible reconciliation continued.
A report published by The Sun said Ola was struggling to see a path toward repairing the relationship.
The newspaper quoted a source familiar with the situation describing her feelings and doubts about reconciliation.
"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 source told The Sun.
James had previously spoken publicly about difficulties in his life, including uncertainty about his career and personal direction.
During an interview with Craig Doyle and Angela Scanlon, he acknowledged the challenges he had been experiencing.
"I'm going through a midlife crisis," James said.
He expanded on those struggles, describing a difficult period that had affected his well-being and his ability to navigate everyday life.
"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."
James also discussed uncertainty about his professional choices and his sense of purpose, explaining that several issues had contributed to his difficulties.
"So many different things, with career choices, waking up and not knowing [my] purpose, things like that."
He connected those experiences to a project called Manopause, which he described as an effort to support middle-aged men experiencing similar struggles.
"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."
James subsequently provided an update on his circumstances, confirming that he had moved out of the family home several months earlier.
He acknowledged that the separation had been difficult but said he did not want to discuss the relationship in excessive detail because Ola was not present to share her perspective.
"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."
He also described living alone and needing time to reassess his life following the move.
"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."
Ola's scheduled appearance on It Takes Two marks her return to the Strictly Come Dancing television franchise 11 years after her departure from the main competition.
