LOUISE LONELY this Christmas?

As Jamie adds to his growing brood, the Strictly star proves she’s picking up the pieces and fighting back

This time last year Louise Redknapp was gearing up to spend an intimate family Christmas with the father of her two children.

Despite having separated three years earlier, Louise and Jamie were a picture of contentment as they relaxed after lunch in a living room strewn with wrapping paper. Quite the modern divorced couple.

Fast-forward 12 months and the picture looks very different. Jamie, recently remarried to the Swedish model Frida Andersson, has his hands full juggling their newborn son, Raphael, and four stepchildren. With sons Charley, 17, and Beau, 13, dropping in to say hello, it will be standing room only.

‘While Jamie’s life is moving forward at breakneck speed, Lou is picking up the pieces and finding her new normal,’ says a close friend. ‘She’s a strong woman and won’t be sobbing into her hankie, but it’s likely to be a bittersweet Christmas for her.

‘She gives thanks every day for her amazing sons, who are everything to her. But she’s starting to wonder what the future holds and with that brings excitement as well as fears!’

Louise has always been open about her feelings, in particular, the sadness around her marriage ending, saying, ‘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 anymore.’ And with Christmas often a time for reflection, Louise could well be looking back at last year feeling a sense of loneliness for what might have been.

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