Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Louise’s agony
Singer shows strain of marriage split rumours ...but still wears her ring
LOUISE Redknapp looks glum as she prepares to fly back to the UK for crisis talks with husband Jamie in a bid to save their marriage.
The 42-year-old left Majorca after a holiday on the Spanish island with sons Charley, 12, and Beau, nine.
She appeared weary and with minimal make-up – but was still wearing her wedding and engagement rings.
Jamie, 44, had stayed at home as he was filming Sky One panel show A League of their Own, which finishes recording today. He cancelled a round of interviews to promote the show on Wednesday so he would not have to field questions about his 19-year marriage.
A source close to singer Louise insists the couple are “working through” their problems, adding: “Louise and Jamie are expected to meet up and discuss their future. Their priority, as always, is their two children.”
But it comes amid claims the pair told friends the marriage is over and they have been living separately.
Just a month ago Louise quashed rumours their relationship was on the rocks, insisting the couple were “great”.
Speaking of the moment they heard reports their marriage was crumbling, she said: “It was surreal. Me and Jamie had just been out for dinner at Zuma, and were in bed together when we saw on Sky that our marriage was in trouble.
“Don’t worry about us, everything’s fine.” Jamie and Louise, who wed in 1998, have regularly been hailed as one of showbiz’s strongest marriages.
They met through mutual pal Robbie Williams when she was on tour with her band Eternal, supporting Take That.
But the cracks were said to have started after her stint on
Strictly Come Dancing with the gruelling training regime meaning they spent lots of time apart.
Jamie’s jobs as a panellist and
football pundit regularly kept him away from home. And Louise is about to embark on a Uk-wide tour of Cabaret playing Sally Bowles, which could put even more strain on their relationship. Friends have insisted it is now time for her to enjoy the limelight.
One said: “She let Jamie’s career take centre stage for years, now it’s her turn. “Her pals will be pleased. Performing is in her blood. There’s nothing worse than having talent and it’s held back. “For years it’s always been Jamie who was going away working, leaving her at home. She effectively gave up her career for 10 years to become a mum. And she loved that, of course, but she is done with putting herself last. She doesn’t want to be known as Louise Redknapp, wife of footballer Jamie. She wants to be known for her own talent.”