She spoke candidly about her marital woes recently, revealing she is living apart from husband Jamie Redknapp and that she felt like a ‘Stepford Wife’ during their marriage.
And Louise Redknapp admitted that her Strictly Come Dancing co-star and new BFF Daisy Lowe convinced her she was still sexy during their stint on the hit show, encouraging her to show off her ‘gorgeous body’.
In a candid interview with The Telegraph the former Eternal singer, 42, said she had an epiphany when Daisy, 28, walked into her dressing room when she was clad in a conservative number.
Still got it: Louise Redknapp admitted that her Strictly Come Dancing co-star and new BFF Daisy Lowe convinced her she was still sexy during their stint on the hit show, encouraging her to show off her ‘gorgeous body’
Pals: In a candid interview with The Telegraph the former Eternal singer, 42, said she had an epiphany when Daisy, 28, walked into her dressing room when she was clad in a conservative number (pictured above with professional dancer Karen Clifton)
She revealed Daisy said: ‘Oh, my God look at your gorgeous body. You have to wear a sexy dress.”
‘She kept on at me to wear something sexy and by week three, I was in a leotard and tights not feeling self-conscious at all.
And the Cabaret star, said this combined with the heights of Strictly gave her a new lease of life and made her realise how much she missed showbusiness.
No longer self-conscious: Louise revealed Daisy said: ‘Oh, my God look at your gorgeous body. You have to wear a sexy dress’ leading her to shed her insecurities about wearing revealing numbers
Friendship: And the Cabaret star, said this combined with the heights of Strictly gave her a new lease of life and made her realise how much she missed showbusiness
Return to showbiz: She said: I could feel myself changing week by week.Sometimes I felt like crying because deep down inside me this voice was screaming ‘This is what I have been missing!’
She said: I could feel myself changing week by week.Sometimes I felt like crying because deep down inside me this voice was screaming ‘This is what I have been missing!’”
In the no-holds barred interview Louise insisted that neither she nor Jamie are pushing for a divorce currently but admitted she ‘needs’ to be apart from him while she re-evaluates her life.
She said she finally feels like she is coming back to who she really is, after spending most of her life pleasing others.
Living apart: In the no-holds barred interview Louise insisted that neither she nor Jamie are pushing for a divorce currently but admitted she ‘needs’ to be apart from him while she re-evaluates her life
Louise, who said the hardest part was moving out while still being in love, said: ‘He’s an amazing man and we’ve had 20 good years together. I know he’s trying to understand that I do need to do this.’
Admitting that she’s not sure what this will do to her marriage, she continued: ‘I have no idea what is going to happen, all I know is that I fought for this, it’s taken everything, but this is something I need to do – for me.’
It was only when she agreed to Strictly Come Dancing, she says, that she was unable to return to the ‘Stepford Wife’ lifestyle.
Louise realised that it was singing and performing to make her happy again — saying that she felt ‘sick’ at the idea’ that that part of her life was now over.
The limelight has been a key part of her life and something she grew up under from a young age.
Space: Despite insisting that neither are pushing for a divorce currently, the 42-year-old Eternal singer admitted that she ‘needs’ to be apart from him whilst she reevaluates her life
At 11-years-old, she won a scholarship to the stage school, Italia Conti and, at 16, she would be chosen to be in a girl band.
Just three years later the singer was selling 10million records worldwide with Eternal.
But she would give up her after being introduced to Jamie by Robbie Williams in 1995.
Louise said she loved Jamie for his passion for sport, adding that she wanted to make him happy
The couple were engaged within a week of their first encounter and were married in three years.
Louise said she loved Jamie for his passion for sport, adding that she wanted to make him happy.
But her confidence began to nosedive when she was diagnosed with endometriosis, just one year into married life.
During both of her pregnancies, chlasma – facial pigmentation – would knock Louise’s confidence even more.
However, her desire to become a mother was strong and she was prepared to put ‘everything’ on hold for them.
But years of watching Jamie excel in his career presenting Sky Sports and being a panelist on the game show A League of Their Own would take their toll on Louise, who began to crave returning to her passions.
The doting mother described her decision to take part in Strict as the first ‘selfish’ thing she had done since the birth of her children — adding that Jamie agreed it would be a nice thing for her to do.
Amid the dancing, the camaraderie, laughs, nerves and excitements of performing, she realised what had been missing from her life.
And Louise believes she is not alone in re-evaluating her life, adding that she believes taking time to think happens to many women who are married and have had children.
Louise’s tell all interview came after she proved she was still up for having a laugh by sharing a quirky clip with her Instagram followers on Saturday.
Slipping into a pair of Fendi thigh high boots worth a whopping £ 1,090.00, the Eternal singer showed off her flexibility as she threw her leg into the air.
Flashing her tanned and toned thighs, the mother-of-two seemed in great spirits as she performed a high kick whilst pouting for the camera.
Kinky boots! Louise proved she was still up for having a laugh and letting loose as she shared a fun and quirky clip with her Instagram followers on Saturday
She captioned the clip: ‘I’m in love with these red #fendi boots #fashion #shoot’.
As well as her stunning boots and dress, Louise proudly flashed her wedding ring in the video, the same day husband Jamie, 44, was pictured playing at the 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links, Scotland, on Friday without his wedding ring on.
Jamie also forwent his wedding ring when he played on the course the day before.
Ringless: The same day Louise showed off her flexibility her husband Jamie was seen without his wedding ring for the second day in a row at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Up it goes! Slipping into a pair of Fendi thigh high boots worth a whopping £ 1,090.00, the Eternal singer, 42, showed off her flexibility as she threw her leg into the air
Amid their marital woes, the songstress is said to be penning lyrics about the couple’s hardships.
A source told The Sun on Saturday: ‘If she does decide to release music again, she’ll have some heartbreaking, not to mention revealing, lyrics ready.’
They told the publication: ‘Louise has always kept on writing music lyrics, even before Strictly raised her profile.’
Leggy lady! Flashing her tanned and toned thighs, the mother-of-two seemed in great spirits as she performed a high kick whilst pouting for the camera
Bare hands: Jamie, 44, was pictured playing at the 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links, Scotland, on Friday and on Saturday without his wedding ring on
Former Eternal singer Louise is set to head on tour in December and will take to the stage for the first time in 15 years. It’s believed the starlet is nervous ahead of her upcoming gigs and has told pals she hopes they are ‘worth it’, as she has ‘sacrificed so much’ to perform again.
MailOnline have contacted a representative for Louise.
Former Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie, meanwhile, was pictured without his wedding ring while playing golf recently, just days after Louise had broken her silence on their marital woes during an appearance This Morning with her ring firmly on.
A welcome distraction? Jamie’s ring was off as he was pictured playing golf at the 2017 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links, Scotland, on Friday
Saying something? The former England midfielder’s appearance without a ring comes after wife Louise was pictured with her ring firmly on
Mingling: Jamie was playing a round with professional golfer Luke Donald and Hollywood actor Matthew Goode at the celebrity tournament
Dressed in a casual blue sweater, coordinating slacks and a baseball cap, Jamie put on a serious display as he instead focused on the task in hand, playing a shot during the second round of the tense game.
At one point he removed his hat, revealing the beginnings of a hint of grey hair, perhaps the outcome of a stressful few months.
Jamie was playing a round with professional golfer Luke Donald and Hollywood actor Matthew Goode at the celebrity tournament.
So far Louise has kept her own wedding band firmly on.
Footballer turned golfer: Dressed in a casual blue sweater, coordinating slacks and a baseball cap, Jamie put on a serious display as he focused on the task in hand, playing a shot during the second round of the tense game
Are they or aren’t they? So far wife of 19 years Louise Redknapp has kept her own wedding band firmly on
Fan love! He obligingly signed a group of young fans’ autographs after the event
To add confusion to the latest state of affairs, Jamie’s wedding ring was back on as he prepared to film the new Sky sporting show at the beginning of the week.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and England midfielder was joined by Jack Whitehall, Robbie Savage, Cesc Fabregas, Freddie Flintoff, Romesh Rangathan, Charlotte Dujardin and host James Corden ahead of its fourth episode.
But it was the reemergence of his wedding ring, just days after wife Louise hinted at problems within their 19-year marriage, that caught the eye.
Jamie was previously seen without the accessory as he covered Saturday Huddersfield Town FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC match for Sky Sports.
It is believed to be the first time the star has been seen without his ring since rumours of marriage troubles started.
Distinctive: The former midfielder, 44, was joined by Jack Whitehall, Robbie Savage, Cesc Fabregas, Freddie Flintoff, Romesh Rangathan, Charlotte Dujardin and host James Corden, but it was the reemergence of his wedding ring that caught the eye
Comedy: Jamie put himself through a series of fun challenges with his teammates while filming the forthcoming show
Despite being caught in the midst of ‘hard times’, Jamie seemed in good spirits at the match as he did a stellar job covering the match and was seen laughing on the pitch.
Jamie’s outing came after Louise appeared on last Friday’s edition of This Morning, and candidly told hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford that she had gone through ‘hard times’ with her husband and that ‘work had been a saviour’ during the difficult period.
The star seemed slightly taken aback as Eamonn asked her ‘What is going on with you and Jamie?’
Bare hand: Jamie was not wearing his wedding ring at Saturday’s Huddersfield Town FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC match the day after wife of 19 years Louise admitted the couple are going through some ‘hard times’
Candid: Jamie’s outing came after his wife Louise, 42, appeared on Friday’s edition of This Morning, and candidly told hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford that she had gone through ‘hard times’ with her husband
Chirpy: Despite being caught in the midst of ‘hard times’, Jamie seemed in good spirits at the match as he did a stellar job covering the match and was seen laughing on the pitch
She responded: ‘I think it’s been so heavily documented, of course we all go through hard times and my priority and his priority are our children and protecting them and keeping as much of it as private as possible and loving them and putting them first. That’s really what we’re focusing on.’
The couple share sons Charley, 13 and Beau, eight.
The former Eternal singer then spoke about the healing power of work on musical Cabaret as well as appearing on Strictly Come Dancing last year saying: ‘Going back to work has been something that’s been a real saviour for me.
Split speculation: She said : ‘I think that its been so heavily documented we all go through hard times, my priority is our children, protecting them, loving them and that’s what we’re focusing on’ (pictured in March 2016)
Emotion: The former Eternal singer then spoke about the healing power of work on musical Cabaret as well as appearing on Strictly Come Dancing last year saying: ‘Going back to work is something that been a saviour for me, Doing ‘Strictly…’ does something to you and going back on stage every night and getting the opportunity again – because you never know, in this business’
‘Doing ‘Strictly…’ does something to you and going back on stage every night and getting the opportunity again – because you never know, in this business opportunities don’t always come along you have to hope – so to have the opportunity to go and work and be out there, I’m loving doing that
The star was wearing her wedding ring for the appearance, but she appeared to be hiding her left hand in her lap during the chat.
Speaking about the show she said: ‘It does make me nervous. The nerves don’t go, it gets harder, it enlightened my love of performing
‘I’ve been being at home for 12 years, being a mum.’
Still on: Chat:The star was wearing her wedding ring for the appearance, but she appeared to be hiding her left hand in her lap for most of the chat
Back to work: Speaking about the show she said: ‘It does make me nervous. The nerves don’t go, it gets harder, it enlightened my love of performing ‘I’ve been being at home for 12 years, being a mum’
She also gave Strictly contestant Ruth Langsford tips on how to handle her time on the dance show adding: ‘That experience made me realise how much I love beimg on stage. Sometimes in life you have to be fearless…You have to just, it’s really hard, especially as you get older to be fearless, you become aware of everything.
‘I remember before my first performance walking to the top of the step and saying to him (dance partner Kevin), ‘I can’t remember the first step. Luckily I did remember it.
‘Going though the process of Strictly you feel terrified, I can’t explain it, you’re putting yourself out there to be judged.
Tips: She also gave Strictly contestant Ruth Langsford tips on how to handle her time on the dance show
She reassured Ruth: ‘You’re going to be amazing! I didn’t want to let my partner down, they put such a lot of time and effort in.’
She then opened up about her upcoming solo tour, saying: ‘It’s a little bit of me, these are live intimate gigs, the whole concept of going out on the road is celebratory, I’m not trying to be a popstar again, this is a bit of fun, a thankyou, I’ve been so fortunate to still be in the industry for so many years
Ruth’s dance partner Anton Du Beke then joined Louise on the sofa as they discussed Strictly tips.
Louise told Ruth: ‘There’s lots of counting, straight legs, walking round the kitchen with straight legs.
Eagle-eyed fans recently noticed Louise had been cropped out of Jamie Redknapp’s Instagram profile picture.
Yet despite ‘quickie divorce’ claims, defiant Louise flaunted her wedding ring as she arrived at the New Wimbledon Theatre ahead of her Cabaret performance on Wednesday.
The outing came after it was revealed Louise does not feature in Jamie’s Instagram profile picture – despite the fact she is in the original snapshot.
Fans spotted that the retired footballer’s image is cropped not to show his wife, amid claims they are pursuing a ‘quickie divorce’.
Music: Eamonn also revealed he had done Eternal’s first interview 25 years ago
Memory blank; Louise confessed that she had forgotten her first step before her first SCD performance but remembered just in time
Good spirits; Louise looked delighted to be reunited with Anton on the sofa
Claims: Louise finally broke her silence after months of speculation (above with Jamie in February 2016)
Louise had shared the original snap in 2015 – which was taken on a family holiday to Palma – captioned: ‘Palma nights #holiday #family #bestfriends x special times xxxx’
MailOnline have contacted Jamie and Louise’s representatives for comment.
Louise’s omission from Jamie’s profile snap was noticed by fans as she revealed plans for her Intimate & Live Tour 2018 after her first headline solo show sold out in under 10 minutes.
The songstress will be visiting Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London in January 2018, as she makes her pop comeback after 15 years away from the stage.
The former Eternal star said: ‘I went back into the studio to rework some of my original tracks and it reminded me that pop music was my first love.’
Full version: Louise had shared the original snap in 2015 – which was taken on a family holiday to Palm – captioned: ‘Palma nights #holiday #family #bestfriends x special times xxxx’
She added: ‘Performing is a part of me and I’m very excited to be announcing this show. I can’t wait to be back on stage performing all of the hits as well as a few of my favourite covers.’
Ahead of the tour, Louise has revealed reworked versions of some of her classic tracks, including Stay, originally released by Eternal in 1993.
The lyrics mention holding onto love – all the more significant amid claims that she is pushing for a ‘quickie’ divorce from her husband Jamie Redknapp.
Comeback: Louise released a brief clip of her new music video on Monday morning
In a snippet from her Stay music video, Louise was seen wearing her sparkling wedding ring in the clip as she belted out: ‘They say that love will come and go. But it’s indispensable to me. I really wanna be with you. What am I gonna do boy?’
In the recording, the mother-of-two is seen standing in a studio with a live band and backing singers, as she wears a loose-fitting olive green top with black leggings while belting out her distinctive vocals in front of a microphone stand.
It comes amid ongoing rumours of marriage woes between Louise and Jamie.
Sparkler: A she sings away in the seconds-long clip, she is seen sporting her wedding ring
Lyrics: In the song, she sings, ‘They say that love will come and go. But it’s indispensable to me. I really wanna be with you. What am I gonna do boy?’
According to the Sunday People, the singer and her footballer husband are ‘no closer to getting back together’, and want to call things off by the end of the year.
Louise’s 19 year-marriage to Jamie reportedly broke down in July, due to her new ‘lease of life’ following her appearance on Strictly.
Having been seen at a number of glamorous events with a host of pals in recent weeks, including model Daisy, the paper now reports that she is keen for a quickie divorce, in order to further embrace her independence.
A source told the Sunday People: ‘Louise wants to put steps in place to end her marriage to Jamie by the end of year.’
Claiming the pair had not managed to resolve their issues, the insider added: ‘They are no closer to getting back together since when they first split in July.
‘Louise now wants to agree a timetable with Jamie to bring the marriage to an end.’
Marital woes? Jamie, to whom Louise has been married for 19 years, is said to be pushing for a ‘quickie divorce’ from the footballer-turned-pundit