Celebs Go Dating star James Haskell's real reason for divorcing Chloe Madeley and whopping £70k he's spent to keep his 'body functioning'
James retired from rugby in 2019James Haskell has signed himself up for the latest series of Celebs Go Dating, but what else is he known for?
Whether it’s his marriage, profession, or personal life, James has continued to make headlines in recent years. However, it appears he may be open to giving love another chance as he takes part in the new E4 series from tonight (May 4).
Other stars on the line-up also include Coleen Nolan and David Potts, to name a few.
Here, we dive straight into his profession, personal life, and what he’s up to now.
Who is James Haskell? How old is he?
James Haskell is an English former rugby union player. He was born on 2 April 1985 in Windsor, Berkshire, making him 41 years old.
He began his professional rugby career in the early 2000s after rising through the youth system at Wasps RFC, where he made his senior debut in 2002.
James also earned international recognition with the England national rugby union team, making his debut in 2007 and going on to win over 70 caps, featuring in World Cups and Six Nations campaigns.
During his career, he had spells abroad with clubs such as Stade Français in France, Highlanders in Super Rugby, and Ricoh Black Rams in Japan, showcasing his adaptability across different rugby environments.
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He later returned to Wasps before finishing his playing days with Northampton Saints.
James retired from professional rugby in 2019, bringing an end to a career noted for its longevity, physicality, and international experience.
What position did James Haskell play?
James primarily played as a flanker, featuring on both the blindside (No. 6) and openside (No. 7), where his physicality, tackling ability, and work rate made him highly effective in both defense and at the breakdown.
Earlier in his career, he was sometimes used as a No. 8, showcasing his versatility across the back row.
What is he doing now?
Since retiring from rugby, James has built a varied career in media, fitness, and entertainment.
Currently, he is the co-host of the popular podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, alongside Mike Tindall and Alex Payne.
The trio shares insight and commentary on the sport, and he also works as a public speaker and author, writing books about fitness, mindset, and his rugby experiences.
The year he retired from rugby, in 2019, James took part in I’m A Celebrity and became the fourth person to be voted off.
James has also developed a passion for DJing house music and producing his own material. He has played sets in London, Dubai, Ibiza and Loughborough.
What school did James Haskell go to?
James was educated at Papplewick School, a preparatory school where he first developed his rugby skills, before going on to attend Wellington College, a well-known independent school.
It was during his time at Wellington College that his rugby talent became more prominent, helping set the foundation for his professional career.
That said, he later found himself in trouble after being suspended over an incident involving a non-consensual recording that showed his rugby friend Paul Doran-Jones having sex with his then-girlfriend in school accommodation, filmed using a hidden camera.
The recording was later stolen by the woman involved. Paul was expelled, while Haskell was suspended in connection with the incident. He was 17 at the time.
In 2009, James reflected on the incident, insisting it was a “stupid mistake”.
“All I am going to say is this. My idea, Paul was execution, I wasn’t in the cupboard at all,” he said.
He added: “We decided to set up a home video club and it went horribly wrong. It was a stupid mistake that we both regret. The worst thing was I was portrayed as having been involved. I was nothing to do with it apart from, obviously, it was my idea.”
What happened to James Haskell’s leg?
James has suffered a series of lower-body injuries over time, particularly affecting his toe and ankle, which ultimately had a significant impact on the length of his career.
One of the most serious was a major big toe injury picked up during England duty in 2016. It required surgery and sidelined him for several months. He has also suffered pain in his neck, shoulders, back, and hips
That setback formed part of a wider pattern of wear and tear in his lower body. This eventually contributed to James’s retirement.
On the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast in 2025, James admitted he had spent a whopping £70k on operations, medical treatment, physios, injections and prescriptions just to keep his “body functioning”.
In late 2025, James was recovering from a serious ankle injury, which required a subtalar fusion. He was forced to use a surgical boot and crutch.
What happened to James Haskell and Chloe Madeley?
In 2014, James formed a relationship with Chloe Madeley, the daughter of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.
They tied the knot in an intimate Berkshire wedding. However, after five years of marriage, they announced they were separating in October 2023. The news came shortly after their ITV series, At Home with the Madeleys.
The pair share a daughter — three-year-old Bodhi Rae Georgia Haskell — who they co-parent together.
Following speculation, James admitted in 2025 that his drinking was a large factor in their split.
“If I put more time into my marriage than I did Guinness, then I wouldn’t be divorced now,” he told the Daily Mail.
“It’s one of those things in life where some things don’t work out, but I have so much love for my daughter and Chloe. It’s teamwork.”
While on the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, James had nothing but good things to say about Chloe.
“Chloe is an amazing woman, extremely talented. She’s made me a much better person being with her,” he said.
“Now we’re separated.. you separate essentially because you want to make sure your daughter has the best possible life. I think when you have a child, you have a responsibility and everything your other wishes go out the window.
“As you grow in relationships, marriage is a really interesting thing, because a lot of people change, elements change, careers change, and you kind of, the confines of it mean that everything else grows but it doesn’t grow.”
‘The last year of the marriage was awful’
James and Chloe’s divorce was finalised in December 2025. Speaking with The Sun in January, Chloe admitted: “It’s been [bleep]ing long enough”.
Addressing their relationship, she said, “It’s fine now”. However, mentioned that “the divorce process has been incredibly emotional and volatile”.
“We have weeks where everything’s fine and we get on really well,” she added.
“And then we have weeks where we don’t agree on something or someone gets frustrated or angry, and then we don’t speak.”
Previously, Chloe explained to The Sun that the “last year of the marriage was awful”.
“It was so dark, painful, and one of the worst periods of my life. It’s a good thing we ended it,” she said.
“It was so incredibly scary. I’m amazed I got through it in the way that I did. I think more people should see it as a positive thing. I’m so proud of myself and so relieved that I actually called it a day.”
James Haskell on Celebs Go Dating
Since signing up for Celebs Go Dating, James has opened up about taking part in the show on the LNER Routes podcast.
“It’s not something I ever thought I would do but it kind of came around at the right time. I’m A Celeb for me, I was the first rugby player to do that and be put on that pedestal,” he said.
“I loved the experience, and you learn very quickly that you become beholden to editors and people, and that’s kind of the way it is. I went on Celebs Go Dating not necessarily to find love but to showcase myself in a different light. I’m very much like Marmite, people either love me or hate me, but they have a very certain impression of me before they’ve met me,” James continued.
He admitted that he is “very aware” that his daughter will be watching him one day. James said he also wants to be respectful of his ex-wife, Chloe, and has spoken to her about the show.
Since signing up, James revealed he’s been on five dates with some “lovely people”. He mentioned that one he “might date again”.
Read more: Coleen Nolan tries sex toys in upcoming Celebs Go Dating series as she opens up about sex life
