It’s been four years since Louise and Jamie Redknapp announced their shock split after 19 years of marriage – just months after she finished as a runner-up on the 2016 series of Strictly Come Dancing – and while the former footballer moved on with Swedish model Frida Andersson-Lourie, Louise has been open about her struggles to get back on the dating scene.
The former Eternal singer revealed she had been ghosted on a dating app by a potential love interest in her book You’ve Got This earlier this year and admitted she found life as a singleton “difficult to navigate”.
Louise explained, “I had what I thought was a good chat with a guy, and then one day he asked me what I was up to. I said, ‘Oh, I’m just going for a bike ride’. And that was the end of that. It’s been five months and no reply. I’m just sitting here wondering what was it that I said? Are bike rides that unattractive? Basically, this is a way to say the new world of dating is so opaque and difficult to navigate. It’s easy to feel you’ve done or said something wrong, when in reality it’s not on you.”
And while Louise has previously insisted her sons, Charley, 17, and Beau, 13, aren’t keen on her meeting a new man, it seems they’ve had a change of heart as she’s now revealed they’re keen for her find someone after their dad married his girlfriend Frida last month.
Louise told Fabulous magazine, “They always say, ‘When are you going to [date]?’”
But while her boys are encouraging her to get back out there, Louise has said dating isn’t her priority. She continued, “Dating just takes time. I do eight shows in five days [in 9 To 5: The Musical] and on my days off, going out and having a social life is not my priority. It’s being a mum and stocking up the fridge. All my boys care about is me being happy – whatever that is.
“It sounds basic, but I’ve got two things that are really important to me right now: my kids, because I want to be a solid part of their life, and my work. Right now, that’s enough for me.
“I’m not saying forever. I’m learning to just be OK with myself. I’m not loving myself, but I’ve been OK. I’m getting there.”
CHECK OUT celebrity splits that shocked the world
RADIO Celebrity splits that shocked the world - slider with cover pic
1 of 27Swipe through to see which celebrity splits shocked the world of showbiz
2 of 27Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Singer Miley Cyrus split from actor Liam Hemsworth in August 2019, despite only getting married in December 2018. Liam released a statement on Instagram, reading, ''Hi all. Just a quick note to say that Miley and I have recently separated and I wish her nothing but health and happiness going forward.'This is a private matter and I have not made, nor will I be making, any comments to any journalists or media outlets. Any reported quotes attributed to me are false. Peace and Love.'
3 of 27Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
After meeting on the set of Step Up in 2006, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced their marriage was over in April 2018. Revealing they are still great friends, the couple decided it was time to go their separate ways after almost nine years of marriage.
4 of 27Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville
After meeting on Love Island 2017, things seemed to be going very well for Gabby Allen and former Blazin' Squad member Marcel Somerville. But in May 2018 allegations that Marcel had cheated on Gabby whilst they were on holiday together surfaced, leading Gabby to reportedly "dump" Marcel.
5 of 27Jake Quickenden and Danielle Fogarty
Dancing On Ice winner Jake Quickenden and Danielle Fogarty split in April 2018, despite being engaged. Speaking in early May, Jake appeared on Lorraine and said the couple are having time apart to focus on their busy work schedules. However, Jake did add, "There's not a bad word. I was with her on Monday, we still talk and I still love her to bits, but sometimes you've got to go away to come back."
6 of 27Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
After two years of marriage, Friends actress Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux announced their split in February 2018. Jen said, "We are two best friends who have decided to part ways as a couple but look forward to continuing our cherished friendship."
7 of 27Anna Faris and Chris Pratt
Hollywood actors Anna Faris and Chris Pratt announced their split in August 2017. The pair shocked the world as they always seemed so loved up at events since marrying in 2004.
8 of 27Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
When Brangelina announced they were getting a divorce in 2016, fans were left in shock. The pair had been dating since 2004 and married in 2014. They have six children together.
9 of 27Fergie and Josh Duhamel
Fergie and Josh Duhamel's split rocked fans in September 2017. The couple said, "With absolute love and respect we decided to separate." The pair were married for eight years.
10 of 27Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Former One Direction star Zayn Malik popped the question to Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, but just a few months later Zayn dumped his fiancé by text.
11 of 27Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris
Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris seemed very loved up with each other, until they split in 2016 and ended things on very bad terms. Calvin even ended up having a Twitter rant about his ex.
12 of 27Dougie Poynter and Ellie Goulding
Hearts broke all over the world when Ellie Goulding and Dougie Poynter announced their split. After rekindling their romance for a few months, they finally called it quits in 2016. Ellie is now engaged to Caspar Jopling.
13 of 27Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Another massive shock in the world of celeb relationships! Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split in 2012 after six years of marriage. The pair share their daughter Suri together.
14 of 27Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow
After 10 years of marriage, actress Gwyneth Paltrow announced her split from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. The split became famous because the former couple bizarrely entitled it "conscious uncoupling."
15 of 27Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner split in 2010 but have since remained great friends and co-parent their children.
16 of 27Jake Roche and Jesy Nelson
Despite popping the question to Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, Rixton frontman Jake Roche couldn't make his relationship work with Jesy, causing the pair to split in 2016.
17 of 27Lady Gaga and Taylor Kinney
Pop superstar Lady Gaga shocked her fans in 2016 when she revealed herself and her partner Taylor Kinney were 'taking a break' after a five-year relationship.
18 of 27Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
They were one of Hollywood's hottest couples, so it was a major shock to fans when Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom announced their split in 2013. The pair had been married for just three years.
19 of 27Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green
Professor Green split with former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh in 2016, just three years after they married. Millie is now dating her ex-boyfriend Hugo Taylor.
20 of 27Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale
Singers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale ended their marriage in 2016. The couple have three children together, Zuma, Apollo and Kingston.
21 of 27Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
They went through a number of ups and downs but Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom's relationship ended after four years of marriage, with Khloe filling for divorce from the basketball player.
22 of 27Will Arnett and Amy Poehler
Will Arnett and Amy Poehler separated back in 2012 after nine years of marriage, but it took until 2016 for the couple's divorce to be finalised.
23 of 27Ariana Grande and Mac Miller
Ariana Grande and Mac Miller announced they had split up in May 2018. The couple had been together for two year and even recorded some duets together. They reportedly chose to end their relationship due to their busy work schedules.
24 of 27Cheryl Tweedy and Liam Payne
After a two year romance and a baby boy, Cheryl Tweedy and Liam Payne announced they'd decided to go their separate ways on Sunday 1st July 2018. Releasing a joint tweet, the statement read, "We are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It's been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together."
25 of 27Alexandra 'Binky' Felstead and Josh 'JP' Patterson
Despite welcoming their daughter India into the world in 2017, Made In Chelsea stars Binky and JP announced their shock split in September 2018. The couple, who vowed to remain friends with their daughter being their number one priority, released a statement on Instagram.
26 of 27Adele and Simon Konecki
Singer Adele confirmed she'd split from her husband Simon Konecki after three years of marriage. The couple share a son together.
27 of 27Maya Jama and Stormzy
After four years of dating, rapper Stormzy and TV presenter Maya Jama split up to focus on their careers.
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Last year, Louise admitted that she hadn’t been on a date since splitting from Jamie three years prior and shared her fears that love might not be a part of her life again.
She said, “I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to have a boyfriend because, first of all, the 16-year-old is like, ‘Well, how they’re going to get past me?’ Sometimes I go, ‘How would you feel if I went on a date?’ He’s like, ‘I don’t want to talk about it’.”
“It’s not looking positive for me when it comes to love life. Still haven’t been on a date! Lockdown is not helping me in the dating world.”
But now that lockdown is over and her sons have had a change of heart, could Louise now find love? We certainly hope so.
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A source close to Louise recently told Closer that she’d been left “shocked” by Jamie’s wedding to Frida, amid reports she didn’t even know they were engaged.
We were told, “Louise was only told about the wedding a couple of days before and was understandably knocked for six.
“She’s struggling to process it all – especially after only just getting her head around the fact her ex of almost 20 years is expecting a baby with a woman 10 years younger than her.”
The source added, “Louise has an amazing support network around her and, while it’s been an incredibly painful time, she also just wants Jamie to be happy and hopes she can also find her happy ending like he has.”