NATALIE LOWE
FORMER STRICTLY COME DANCING STAR NATALIE LOWE AND HER HUSBAND JAMES KNIBBS OPEN UP TO OK!’S KAT ROMERO ABOUT HOW THEY’VE COME THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE OF A TOUGH PERIOD
When Natalie Lowe hung up her Strictly dancing shoes in 2017 after competing in seven series, she was set for the next chapter of her life – marrying partner James Knibbs in 2018 and welcoming their son Jack in December last year.
But the 39-year-old recently revealed that behind closed doors, her journey to a happy ever after was plagued with heartache. After discovering she was pregnant on their wedding day, she miscarried soon after and then suffered a second miscarriage five months later.
After seeking one-to-one therapy, the dancer chose to speak out about her loss for the first time and reveals to OK! that the experience proved to be a second form of therapy for her. She says,“i went from someone watched by millions on Strictly to a person who couldn’t leave the house to go to my local yoga studio. I couldn’t have spoken about my experiences without James. I couldn’t have got through the last two years without him.”
The couple, who met on a train to Leeds in 2015, insist it was fate that brought them together. “I wasn’t meant to get that train. I was running late and should’ve missed it but it was 10 minutes delayed,” James explains.
Here, as they open up their beautiful Cheshire home to OK!, the pair discuss getting through their tough first years of marriage, starting a family and their romantic first meeting...
How has lockdown been for you? Natalie: It’s been a tough time for everyone, I think. We were lucky in a way as we managed to get into this new house in February and then had my parents come to stay from Australia, so we had a big incentive to get everything ready for them.
James: We were so lucky to move in before lockdown and we love this house. It’s just outside Knutsford and we’re close to friends and family.
Did your parents manage to return to Australia, Natalie?
Yes, thankfully. It was a joy to have them over. Since I left Australia in 2009, I’ve struggled to spend quality time with them. Especially when I was so busy with Strictly. My dad isn’t in the best health and missed Jack’s birth as he had an operation, but they got to come here for two weeks and meet him. I had to peel Jack away from my mum! They had to get home for my dad’s doctor commitments and they also have
‘We need to speak out about miscarriages more because it’s so common’
a dog. Thankfully, they got a flight out before everything happened. It’s hard because Australia isn’t letting anyone in or out now so I’m not sure when we’ll see them again but we just have to stay hopeful.
How hard has it been to be in quarantine as new parents?
Natalie: It’s been really difficult. In those early days, you realise how much you take for granted, like just going to see a doctor or health visitor. I found myself Goggling everything. Then Jack had these weird lumps on the back of his head and I was so worried. I took him to a doctor and it was frightening for him to be monitored, but thankfully they said that babies at that age have little immunity so their lymph nodes can swell up. It’s normal and nothing to worry about, but it didn’t stop me panicking! James: You do worry a lot.
Natalie: Yes, I do, especially as a new parent. You just want everything to be alright.
Would you ever consider baby number two? Natalie: We’re going to let nature take its course, but we’d love another one.
James: Yeah, but right now we’re over the moon with Jack. We’re so happy.
Natalie, you bravely opened up about your miscarriages. Was that a difficult decision for you to make?
Yes, I was so nervous to speak about it for the first time. For a lot of people, it’s a very personal journey and I didn’t want to upset anyone. But as soon as I opened up, it was like therapy for me. For a long time after my miscarriages, I didn’t realise the grief was pulling me down. I was told two miscarriages was nothing to worry about, so I almost felt wrong for feeling as sad as I did. I became numb and put up a barrier. I came off social media for two years and it changed me as a person. I went from someone watched by millions on Strictly to a person who couldn’t leave the house to go to my local yoga studio. That’s how much I hit rock bottom. It took opening up and one-on-one therapy to help me through.
How was the response?
I was overwhelmed. Women were telling me about their journeys and how they’d suffered three, four, or even five miscarriages and then gone on to have their baby or they had adopted. We need to speak out about it more because it’s so common. I’m so thrilled that I’ve been asked to be an ambassador for The Miscarriage Association and I’m so happy to raise more awareness. There’s help and support out there if you need it and women shouldn’t feel ashamed for needing that. I’m raising money for their Miles That Matter campaign and will dance every Wednesday night at 8pm live on Fitsteps Facebook page. I’m hoping to raise £25,000 purely to keep their helplines open for the next 100 days. Due to coronavirus, fundraising had come to a standstill, but
‘lockdown makes you realise how much you take for granted’
there’s been a 40 per cent increase for more requests and support
James: I’m so proud of Natalie for her bravery. If she helps just one woman with her story, it will all be worth it. But it seems like she’s helped so many already.
James, how did you cope during that difficult time?
It was very hard. If Natalie is upset, I like to fix it. I wanted to solve it and it was hurtful for me that I couldn’t. I felt helpless.
Natalie: But James gave me the space when I needed it and total support. I couldn’t have spoken about my experiences without him. I couldn’t have got through the last two years without him.
Has the experience made you stronger as a couple?
Natalie: Definitely. These weren’t the first few years of marriage we were expecting. People say you’re supposed to enjoy those years but we’ve been through a lot. It’s not always been smooth sailing but it has brought us closer.
Tell us about how you both first met? Natalie: I was meant to be on Strictly but I’d broken seven metatarsals and got released from the show. I was on the train to Leeds for a fitness conference for my dance company Fitsteps. I managed to make the last train back to Leeds and it was packed with rugby fans. When I walked through the carriage, they were singing the Strictly theme at me! I eventually found a carriage that was a bit quieter and sat down next to these two gentlemen and we got talking. Then James walked by and I instantly thought he was so fit. James sat down in front of me and we all just got talking.
James: The two gentlemen ended up getting off earlier so we spent the whole train journey chatting away.
Natalie: We talked about everything and then swapped numbers. A week later, James came to London and we went for dinner. I came home and told my flatmate that I’d met the one – I just knew.
James: It feels like fate because I wasn’t meant to get that train. I was running late and should’ve missed it but it was 10 minutes delayed.
Natalie: I should’ve been on Strictly so we may never have met. It was meant to be!
Natalie, you quit Strictly in 2017. Was that a tough decision?
It’s never easy leaving a show like that; it’s so loved. But I sadly had to make that sacrifice for my future. If I hadn’t met James, I would have stayed on Strictly, no doubt about it. But I knew I wanted to be a mum and I had to make that decision. The show is so full on. You start in July and the show takes you to December and then you do a tour. And I always did another tour with Ian Waite. From the moment I landed in the UK from Australia, I didn’t take a break. If I had my time again, I’d do Strictly and one tour and give myself a chance to rest, recover and enjoy life. I love to dance but if you can’t give something 100 per cent, it’s time to leave.
There’s been a Strictly baby boom recently for Anton du Beke, James and Ola Jordan and Pasha Kovalev. Do you keep in touch? It’s hard as we’re all so busy. I’ve seen Anton since he became a dad and he’s loving it! I’ve reached out to Pasha, too. Ian Waite hasn’t had a baby but he is godfather to Jack. He luckily got to meet him before lockdown and bought him these gorgeous little outfits.
Bruno Tonioli is reportedly going to miss this year’s Strictly. Would you like to temporarily replace him as a judge?
I’d love to see somebody fill the spot that has a ballroom and Latin background, as it’s such a niche style. Yes, I’d love to be a judge! But mainly I’d like to see someone with real knowledge of the sport take the spot.
Natalie, your 40th birthday is next month. Have you got a big party planned?
We were going to have a party but I think we’ll put it on hold until next year. I can turn 40 again next summer! We’re just going to have a small gathering with family. The people who are in our bubble.
James: I may have a few secrets up my sleeve but I can’t reveal them yet. It will be lovely to celebrate as a family and all be together.
Natalie: Jack hasn’t been passed around that much by family due to lockdown, but he finally got cuddles with his grandma recently and there were lots of tears. We’re so excited to spend more time with family now.
‘i’m so proud of natalie for her bravery’