Louise Redknapp hints Strictly co-stars ‘didn’t have her back’ after Jamie split
Louise Redknapp has suggested her co-stars on Strictly Come Dancing didn’t have “her back” after she split from husband Jamie.
The 46-year-old appeared on the BBC dance show in 2016, which was the catalyst for her divorce from the football pundit as she gained confidence and decided she no longer wanted to be a “Stepford wife”.
The mother-of-two, who was partnered with Kevin Clifton, underwent a lifestyle change after her dancing stint, which included relaunching her music career and moving on from Jamie.
However, she has now hinted that she was let down by those on the show after being buoyed up by them to start afresh.
Writing in her new book You’ve Got This, she explained: “The thing that Strictly gave me was a false sense of security. There is an energy around the show that makes you feel invincible.
“I felt like certain people had my back, and, in hindsight, this wasn’t really the case.
“I was so scared about going back to normal life and losing what I’d achieved on the show.”
The end of Louise and Jamie Redknapp’s seemingly perfect union took her friends, family and the showbusiness world by surprise just a year after Strictly.
Louise has since admitted she regrets not having a proper talk with “best friend” Jamie on ending the 18-year marriage.
She explains in her book: “Before anyone could stop me, I just ran, as fast as the wind would take me. I never once looked behind, until maybe too late.
“I should have paused and thought about other people and had just a bit more time to work out why I felt I couldn’t do it any more.
“I wish I’d tried. I want to say to anyone thinking of running: Just slow down. Don’t run. Because once you run too fast, you can’t make up the ground you’ve lost.
“Stop, say what you need, say what you think, don’t be afraid to say what’s really going on. You don’t have to be quiet.”
Since appearing on Strictly Louise has signed a record deal and last year released her fourth solo album, Heavy Love.
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She has also taken to live theatre, touring with Cabaret and joining the Dolly Parton musical 9 To 5 just before the pandemic struck.
While Louise is still pals with Jamie, she has not formed a long-term relationship since her divorce, though she has been linked with models including 27-year-old hunk James Yates.
Jamie is now getting serious with Frida, who is ten years his junior and looks remarkably like his former wife.