James Jordan has defended contentious comments he made about ‘preferring’ his wife Ola now that she has dropped weight. These comments were made after Ola underwent weight loss surgery.
After becoming “unhappy” with their physique over the course of the previous year, the two former stars of Strictly Come Dancing were married in 2003, and since then, they have shed an incredible six and a half stone between the two of them.
During an appearance on the Lorraine show that aired on Tuesday morning, James responded to those individuals who were dissatisfied with his comments regarding Ola’s slimmed-down physique.
Lorraine, 63, said: ‘James, you got criticism in particular because there was an interview where you said you preferred Ola thinner because, it wasn’t just that, there was a because.’
James, 44, responded: ‘Yeah, I mean the thing is I was directly asked that question, “Do you prefer Ola thinner?” and I said, “Yes I do, but I prefer her because she’s happier thinner”.
‘The thing is, when we went to the IVF clinic, Ella [the pair’s daughter] is an IVF baby, everybody knows that, we were actually told that if we want to conceive again, it’s going to help us a lot if we’re both thinner. A healthier size, we weren’t healthy. We were both in the obese category.


‘She was unhappy and I knew that,’ James continued. ‘I think people chose to be offended for Ola but she wasn’t offended by it.’
Backing her husband up, 40-year-old Ola added: ‘I knew where he was coming from. He knows that I feel more confident now and happier. I’m just myself again.’
Ola has previously opened up on her weight loss journey, admitting she now feels ‘sexier’ than ever.

She told MailOnline: ‘I’m quite short as well so a size 14 for some people isn’t big and that’s the problem with weight and sizes because some people say a 14 isn’t big. But being 5ft3 and a size 14 is big,
‘I’m a size eight now. I missed my old self. There’s nothing wrong with admitting it.
‘People now preach body positivity, and they accept it, but I really missed my old self and that’s not just my body it was with dance and everything else. Health is important for me, and I want to stay healthy for as long as I can.’
Speaking about her new-found confidence, Ola said her sex life with her other half has improved, as she previously ‘didn’t want to be seen’.
‘It’s confidence and even with dressing now I’ll wear nicer clothes. I feel sexy again. I don’t wear my big knickers anymore and I’m wearing my sexier stuff,’ she shared.
‘I have worked hard and I’m really pleased with myself. I’m really happy.’