Chloe Madeley Drops Bombshell Uncovering the Truth Behind Her ‘Dark’ Marriage to James Haskell

Chloe Madeley, 37, has broken her silence about her split from former rugby player James Haskell, 39, describing the final year of their marriage as “dark and incredibly scary.” The couple, who share a two-year-old daughter, Bodhi, announced their separation in October last year, pledging to co-parent with “nothing but love.”

Reflecting on the challenges of her 11-year relationship with James, Chloe revealed how difficult their final year together was. “When you tell people that you are divorcing, everyone sees it as such a negative thing. They say: ‘This is going to be so hard for you.’ And, yes, it is, but the hardest bit was when we were married,” Chloe shared. “The last year of the marriage was awful. It was so dark, painful, and one of the worst periods of my life. It’s a good thing we ended it.”

Speaking to The Sun, Chloe admitted the separation was terrifying but ultimately the right decision for her and her family. “It was so incredibly scary, especially when you’ve been with someone for 11 years and you have a child together. I’m amazed I got through it in the way that I did. I think more people should see it as a positive thing. I’m so proud of myself and so relieved that I actually called it a day.”

Chloe emphasized that her decision to end the marriage was motivated by her daughter, Bodhi. She explained, “I didn’t want my daughter to see or hear parts of our relationship and think it was ‘normal.’” She added, “The fact is, I made the right decision – for all three of us. I would be happier to spend the next 10 years single than to stay in the relationship I was in.”

Despite the challenges, Chloe has kept many details of the separation private, prioritizing her daughter’s well-being and shielding her parents, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, from reading about her painful experiences. She recalled reassuring her family that the decision would make her happier in the long run, and they supported her through the transition.

Chloe and James married in December 2018 in a country church ceremony described as “incredible.” They welcomed Bodhi in August 2022, but their relationship publicly ended just 14 months later, shortly after the release of their ITV reality series, Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair, which documented their journey as first-time parents.

“I have to keep reminding myself that this was the best choice for all of us,” Chloe concluded.