Louise Redknapp confirms she’s living apart from husband Jamie and confesses she gave up plans for baby number three after Strictly gave her the confidence to follow her dreams
The pop star has finally opened up about her marital troubles after splitting from the former sportsman over the summer, but admits she 'still loves him'
LOUISE Redknapp has confirmed she's living apart from husband Jamie in candid new interview as she confesses she "still loves him" but needs to follow her dreams.
The singer, 42, has finally opened about her marital troubles after splitting from the former footballer, 44, over the summer.
The Sun revealed the couple's marriage of almost 20 years had crumbled back in July after falling victim to the Strictly curse.
Louise has now admitted that going on the show gave her the confidence to change her life and revive her career.
In a candid new interview with , Louise says she felt like a "Stepford wife" and had to start putting herself first.
She says Jamie had wanted to try for a third child after she finished her run on Strictly.
Louise said: "It’s so hard because I love him. He’s an amazing man and we’ve had 20 good years together.
"I know he’s trying to understand that I do need to do this. People might look at me and think I’ve got everything, but a sweeping staircase and designer handbag doesn’t really do it for me...
"I have no idea what is going to happen, all I know is that I fought for this, it’s taken everything, but this is something I need to do – for me."
She added that seeing Jamie become a TV presenter after his football career ended was tough.
She explained: "Standing by and watching Jamie become this entertainment star was pretty hard.
"I was proud of him, but there was part of me thinking, 'That’s my world'."
In the chat, she reveals that "neither she nor her husband are pushing for a divorce" and they speak every day even though they are living apart.
She goes on to explain that she felt like she spent years looking after her husband and two sons, Charley, 12, and Beau, nine, and needed to do something for herself.
Louise added: "I have spent most of my life pleasing everyone else, worrying about being judged and thinking I should always do the right thing by staying at home, looking after my kids and my husband. I lost myself...
"‘I’d think of my past life as a pop star as being “not reality”. Looking after the house and my family was my reality.
"I became a sort of Stepford Wife, wanting to be perfect at it."
She hints that she clashed with Jamie over her decision to go back to work, admitting: "No one could understand why it was so desperately important to me."[After Strictly] I realised I couldn’t just go back to that [family life].
"I didn’t want to continue running around after everyone else, and occasionally promoting a yogurt or doing a little TV presenting job. I wanted to sing, I wanted to perform... And that is when the s*** hit the fan."
Louise also said that she explained her decision to her sons, explaining that she would not be around as much, and they were supportive.
Another major point she mentioned was her friendship with fellow Strictly star Daisy Lowe.
Louise insisted her friendship with the young model has given her confidence to branch out on her own, but she's adamant Daisy has not "led her astray".
She added: "I’m a 42-year-old woman. Daisy is a mate who is an incredible cheerleader at a time when I’ve needed a lot of support.
"She’s a breath of fresh air because she has absolutely no filter."
Louise and Jamie - parents to two kids Charley, 12, and Beau, nine - have been married for 19 years.
Her big admission comes after Jamie was spotted without his wedding ring as he took part in a charity golf tournament in Scotland this week.
Louise, who has been keeping her band on, has been starring in Cabaret in the West End.
She is also working on new music and plans to return to touring in the coming months.
The former Eternal singer recently spoke out for the first time about their marital problems,
During an appearance on This Morning last month, she said:"I think that it has been so heavily documented, and of course we all go through hard times.
"My priority and his priority is our children, and protecting them and keeping as much of it as private as possible, and loving them and putting them first - and that’s what we're focusing on."
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