CHLOE Madeley has revealed the moment she decided to end her marriage to James Haskell during a day out.
Personal trainer Chloe, 36, shocked fans in October when she announced her split from rugby ace James, 39, after five years of marriage.
While they’re no longer an item, the pair remain on good terms and are even still living together as they co-parent their daughter Bodhi, one.
Chloe the So Wrong It’s Right podcast: “He’s [James] is still technically my husband,” as Olivia asked: “How long have you been separated for?”
The fitness guru replied: “I’ll be honest, exactly a year.
“When we released the statement, we kind of started to have the conversation in August last year.
“I think people think it’s a specific date, as the days, weeks, months pass it becomes more firmed up.
“You realise that nobody is fighting for this, you realise you’re getting more and more serious about this thing that you’re talking about initially.
“Slowly slowly it kind of dissipated, but the first conversation started happening in August last year.”
Chloe went on: “I think I knew that I was really unhappy and I think he knew he was really unhappy too.
“But I don’t think either of us ever predicted we were going to break up ever.”
She recalled: “I swear to god, I remember the day, the time, the temperature, the outfits, where we were, everything – I just remember saying it ‘I don’t think that we should do this anymore’, but really meaning it.
“It kind of went from there. It doesn’t just happen, it didn’t for us. It was built upon and it was firmed up as time past.”
The star admitted that she still has “boomerang” moments where she is forced to relive her break-up.
In recent weeks, James left their marital home and Chloe said: “He moved out and that was like a boomerang moment.
“We were both at Glastonbury and we ran into each other, it was quite surprising for me, I didn’t see it coming.
“We were with all of our mutual friends.
“You kind of relive it sometimes.
“11 years is a long time, I’ve basically grown up into adulthood with him.”
Chloe insisted that she and James are still “very good friends” but said they don’t work well “romantically”.
Chloe said she’s “dipping her toe” back into the dating world – but admitted dating apps are a no-go for her.
“I’m not dating, I’m talking to people. I’m dipping my toe into the flirting single pond,” she shared.
“I don’t know what I’m doing.
“I don’t have a type, I go for people I have a vibe and energy with.
“The problem is now, is that everyone meets people on dating apps.
“You can’t get a vibe or a feeling on that. Nine times out of ten, it’s guys hugging their dog.
“Me and my friend got a little bit drunk and we downloaded a few apps and we were laughing and taking the p*** out of everyone.
“I can’t see myself being active on any of these apps.
“That’s not how I fancy people, I get bored of talking to someone I’ve not met.
“I’m really hoping I meet someone in real life.”
Devoted mum Chloe, the daughter of TV legends Richard and Judy Finnigan, later released a statement confirming the couple had decided to part ways after five years of marriage.
In the joint statement, she said: “James and I mutually decided to separate at the end of September, 2023.
“We had not planned on releasing a statement at this time – certainly not while the television show was airing – but constant speculation about our marriage has, unfortunately, forced our hand.
“Beyond this statement, we will not be speaking about this matter publicly, and we would request privacy at this time.
“Our sole focus now is our beautiful daughter. We shall continue to co-parent with nothing but love.”
“There’s kind of like a heavy insinuation that he’s not a nice guy, ” Chloe told The Sun on Sunday in an interview last month.
“Look, James and I went through our battles. But we’re co-parenting really well, and 50 per cent of that accolade is on him.
“I want him to have some of that respect from people, which I don’t see him getting.”
She added: “I honestly think James and I are doing a fantastic job and I’m very proud of us both.”
However, the health guru admitted she initially found it far harder than James did to be friends for their daughter’s sake.
She explained: “James is a very practical person and I’m not, I’m a very emotional person.
“For him, it wouldn’t make sense that we broke up our marriage and then still carried on absolutely hating life and hating each other’s company.
“For him, it was a matter of being very practical, like, ‘We better make an effort and get on and do this properly.’ I’m a much more emotional person.
“But I also am so in love with my daughter, she’s my whole entire world. So there was no way I was going to drag my daughter into some ridiculous kind of child-weaponising, toxic situation.”
