‘I cried pretty much every day for a year’: Grieving James Jordan says he was in a ‘very dark place’ after losing his father Allan, 67, to a brain tumour
James Jordan said he cried ‘pretty much every day for a year’ after his father’s death last March.
The former Strictly Come Dancing pro, 43, tragically lost his father Allan in March aged 67, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
During Loose Women & Men’s special on Friday, James reflected on his father’s battle and death and said losing his father left him in a ‘very dark place’.
‘I cried pretty much every day for a year’: James Jordan said he cried ‘pretty much every day for a year’ after his father’s death last March as he appeared on Loose Women on Friday
‘I don’t think men suffer with grief differently to women,’ the ballroom dancer began.
‘I wasn’t very good at all. It put me in a very dark place and I started grieving the day I found out he was going to die.
‘I was grieving for a year and then we lost him and then you start grieving again. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever been through.’
James continued he is only able to speak about his emotions now because he knows his father wouldn’t want him to his mental health to be at rock bottom.
Close bond: The dancer’s father Allan (right) passed away at 67 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour
Candid: ‘I wasn’t very good at all. It put me in a very dark place and I started grieving the day I found out he was going to die,’ he said
‘I cried pretty much every day for a year. I have no shame in saying that. My dad was one of my closest friends and I’ll miss him every day.
He added, ‘I still think about it now and get upset. It was cruel he was taken the way he was. Just retired and just started enjoying life.’
The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant couldn’t visit his father in hospital for months at a time due to the coronavirus pandemic, while he was ‘so ill’.
‘Until you go through it yourself, you don’t know what people are going through and it’s absolutely horrendous,’ James said.
Brave: James continued he is only able to speak about his emotions now because he knows his father wouldn’t want him to be in the dark place he found himself in six months ago
Rest in peace: James’ father passed away in March 2021 at the age of 67 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour
‘It was probably the darkest time of my life’: James said his wife and dance partner Ola, had pulled him out of the emotional and dark time (pictured: Ola on holiday with James’ parents)
The choreographer previously revealed losing Allan caused him to suffer anxiety attacks.
He told The Sun: ‘My dad was my best mate, and I had never realised how powerful grief is. I didn’t realise what it would do to me, and what it would do to my body.’
Just weeks before, James had welcomed his first child Ella with his fellow-Strictly star partner Ola, 38.
He explained: ‘I wanted to have the joy and elation over having a baby, but with my dad, it meant that it was probably the darkest, and most horrible time of my life.
Cute: Just weeks before his father’s death, the Strictly Come Dancing professional welcomed his first child Ella with his partner Ola, 38
‘Father’s Day is a double whammy for me. It is amazing for me with my daughter, but at the same time to remember my father is sad.’
The professional dancer continued to explain how after his father passed his body underwent extreme physical stress.
James detailed how his grief made him feel extremely weak, he woke up panicked thinking someone had broken into his house, and he experienced severe anxiety.
Citing his daughter as a Godsend, James said his family, specifically his wife and dance partner Ola, had pulled him out of the emotional and dark time.
Heartbreaking: The professional dancer continued to explain how after his father passed his body underwent extreme physical stress (pictured on holiday with his dad and Ola)