Chloe Madeley and James Haskell’s marital woes were put under the spotlight in scenes from their ITVX reality show.
The couple were filming the lead up to daughter Bodhi’s first birthday in August for Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair when they spoke candidly about the issues in their relationship.
Chloe, 36, and James, 38, have since separated, with the couple confirming that they decided to end their five-year marriage in September, mere weeks after wrapping filming on their show.
Tensions flared in the fourth and final episode of their show as James claimed his wife was treating him ‘like a dog’.
The pair were preparing to film their new couple’s podcast, with Chloe – the daughter of Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan – left irked by the fact her husband wasn’t prepared.
Speaking out: Chloe Madeley and James Haskell’s marital woes were put under the spotlight in scenes from their ITVX reality show, Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair
Not impressed: Tensions flared in the fourth and final episode of their show as James claimed his wife was treating him ‘like a dog’
She explained: ‘You’ve done what you love to do, you’ve said “here’s an idea that I really wanna do and I think it’s going to be amazing” now the day is here, you’ve done absolutely no prep for it.
‘I was up until 11.30 last night in bed writing treatments for the show.’
She added to the camera: ‘Classic. James has not prepared anything for the podcast he insisted we do so obviously it all falls down to me and I’m quite nervous about this now.’
The personal trainer revealed she had a work call to complete before filming the podcast and proceeded to open Zoom, while James kept talking to her in the background.
She told the camera: ‘When I’m trying to work and James is just talking, talking, talking – I’m just like not now – I have two methods – shush him and just keep shushing him until he gets annoyed and then just ignore him.’
James snapped back: ‘You’re just going to invade my space while I’m having breakfast. It’s a bit like your own podcast, bit all over the place, bit scatty, not very interesting.’
As Chloe continued to shush him it then cut back to her talking to camera as she explained: ‘If James is contributing anything of value I wouldn’t shush him but he’s contributing s**t banter on a work call that isn’t appropriate and he needs to pipe down!’
Having stormed out of the room, James proceeded to moan: ‘She shushes me like I’m a dog or like I’m a baby. I’m like “shush me again and that’s the last thing you’ll ever do.”‘
Chloe went on to explain: ‘The difficulty in mine and James’ relationship comes from the fact that both of us think we’re in charge.
‘The relationships that I know are very calm and tranquil there’s a dominant and there’s a submissive.
‘James and I are both dominant so obviously it’s like World War Three.’
Chloe explained: ‘The difficulty in mine and James’ relationship comes from the fact that both of us think we’re in charge. James and I are both dominant so it’s like World War Three’
Getting ready: While Chloe and James had their disagreements, they decided to put any tension aside for date night, heading out for an evening of crazy golf and drinks
While Chloe and James had their disagreements, they decided to put any tension aside for date night, heading out for an evening of crazy golf and drinks.
While getting ready, Chloe mused: ‘I know it’s a date but also it’s an active, competitive date so I’m not going to be dressing – like I ever – do like a girly girl.’
Which prompted James to scoff: ‘Why are you pretending that you ever get really dressed up? You’re lying!
‘You always sit there on a date and go “does it upset you that I don’t wear any makeup and never dress up?” It’s more the fact you do something and you worry about it!’
As Chloe said: ‘I feel bad because…’ James jumped in to say: ‘Not bad enough to ever change it though!’ as she continued: ‘In my head we’re leaving the house and I’m comfortable and I’m warm and that’s all I care about.
‘Then we get there and other girls, like Love Island style girls walk in and I’m like oh s**t, poor James.'”
As James reasoned: ‘I never complain’, Chloe continued: ‘I dress a bit slutty, just not girly.’
James then quipped: ‘You always dress slutty when I’m not there which is even worse.’
The final episode of the reality series concluded with Bodhi’s first birthday party, which was attended by the couple’s parents.
The scenes were filmed a month before Chloe and James separated, with the couple formally announcing their split last weekend with a joint statement.
The couple, who married in 2018, had fuelled speculation about their relationship after the personal trainer emerged without her wedding ring as she partied with friends – shortly after the former rugby player was pictured chatting to a mystery blonde outside a London nightspot.
In a joint update shared to Instagram, they announced: ‘Chloe and I mutually decided separate at the end of September, 2023.
‘We had not planned on releasing a statement at this time – certainly not while the television show was airing – but constant speculation about our marriage has, unfortunately, forced our hand.
‘Beyond this statement, we will not be speaking about this matter publicly, and we would request privacy at this time.
‘Our sole focus now is our beautiful daughter. We shall continue to co-parent with nothing but love.’
Ending: The final episode of the reality series concluded with Bodhi’s first birthday party, which was attended by the couple’s parents. The scenes were filmed a month before Chloe and James separated (Chloe pictured with Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan)
Sharing his own statement to Instagram, James added: ‘It’s with a lot of sadness I write this post, but unfortunately, in the world we live in, it has to be done.
‘My priority is my daughter’s and Chloe’s happiness and security. For that reason, I won’t be commenting any further.’
A source told : ‘James is still living at the family home in London, he arrived back on Monday and was still there yesterday morning.’
One friend of the couple added: ‘It is all so weird, and it all seems rather rum that Chloe did a round of interviews and talked very openly about her life and the marriage but she failed to say that she and James had split despite her television show being all about her family life.’