I'm on my own and I'm free'

Chloe Madeley exclusively opens up to OK! about starting the year as a single mum, as she draws a line under a “really hard” 2023

-  GEORGIA TREVITT

Chloe Madeley is stepping into 2024 with a newfound freedom and a “massive smile” on her face. “I feel very strong and very brave,” she tells OK! in our exclusive chat, the first since announcing her split from husband James Haskell in October.

Despite enduring a rocky end to 2023, candidly admitting there were times she would “just sit and cry all day”, the star has no regrets about the pair’s decision to separate and is now feeling excited about the new path she’s creating for herself and daughter Bodhi.

The last time OK! spoke to Chloe, it was August and she was celebrating the toddler’s first birthday with James. Although the couple were all smiles for the camera, Chloe confesses that behind the scenes their marriage had “just stopped being good”, and they were struggling. After a challenging summer and a string of difficult conversations, they decided to call it quits in September, almost five years after tying the knot. Announcing their split a month later in a statement, they said it had been a mutual decision and they would continue to co-parent with “nothing but love”.

“If you think of relationships, you have pillars in place to hold them up and I think we just found we didn’t have enough there to hold us up anymore,” she admits now.

Fast forward to today and Chloe is embracing a strong and positive mindset. Despite the split, Chloe spent Christmas Day with James and her parents.

“Bodhi was more interested in the wrapping paper than the presents, but we all came together as family and it was so lovely.