Shocking truth about Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne’s split: Why HE left HER, the behaviour that made him walk… and the new ‘blazing row’ over ‘betrayal’ that led to the end, told by friend to OLIVIA KEMP
Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne have ended their nine-year marriage after ‘living apart’ for much of the year following a secret trial separation.
The EastEnders star, 33, is understood to have insisted on a divorce from former The Only Way Is Essex regular Dan after ‘mentally checking out’ of their relationship for good.
The couple, who are parents to young daughters Ella, 11, and Mia, seven, exchanged vows in 2017 after dating for four years. Dan also has son Teddy, 12, from a previous relationship.
Their turbulent marriage has faced numerous difficulties over the years, among them multiple claims of infidelity levelled at Dan, who has previously been accused of cheating on his wife with former Love Island contestants Gabby Allen and Alexandra Cane.
The tattooed TV personality, 34, originally moved out of the family home in March last year during an earlier separation.
They later headed on a ‘make-or-break getaway’ to Mexico and in June 2025 the pair celebrated their eight-year wedding anniversary, enjoying a romantic break at a luxury London hotel to mark the milestone.
Jacqueline Jossa, 33, and Dan Osborne, 34, have ended their nine-year marriage after ‘living apart’ for much of the year following a secret trial separation
The EastEnders star is understood to have insisted on a divorce from former The Only Way Is Essex regular Dan after ‘mentally checking out’ of their turbulent relationship
Now sources tell The Sun the split this time is ‘permanent’, adding: ‘Everyone knows they’ve had their troubles, but after spending some time apart this year, they’ve decided to make the split permanent. Their two daughters are their main priority.’
Dan is said to have moved out ‘permanently last month into the secret house he bought behind Jacqueline’s back’ during their brief split in early 2025.
Jacqueline was left in shock after discovering her husband had bought a house in Essex last year, which put more pressure on their strained relationship.
The couple reportedly struggled to make their marriage work following weeks of heated rows.
‘After all Jac’s been through, she’s finally had enough. They’ve been living separate lives all this year and she’s over it’, the source added. ‘There’s only so many times she can put herself through living in limbo and taking him back.’
‘She has mentally checked out of the relationship for the first time and Dan has panicked. He’s worried the grass isn’t greener and has had the shock of his life that he’s pushed Jac too far this time.’
Friends of Jacqueline are reportedly ‘so pleased’ she has finally checked out of the marriage for good after years of ‘begging’ her to leave.
The Daily Mail has contacted Jacqueline and Dan’s representatives for comment.
Just five months ago, Dan was caught liking another girl’s bikini snaps on Instagram with Closer reporting at the time that he is back to his ‘old tricks’.
Dan was reportedly seen liking model Rosey Victoria’s posts and a source told the magazine: ‘Dan has proved time and time again that he can’t be trusted.
‘Nothing means more to Jac than Dan – she’s desperate for her marriage to work and doesn’t care at what cost.
Friends of Jacqueline are reportedly ‘so pleased’ she has finally checked out of the marriage for good after years of ‘begging’ her to leave
‘But the fact of the matter is, he can’t help himself and friends worry that he’s up to his old tricks again.’
The Daily Mail understood at the time that Dan and Rosey are pals and the pair both follow each other on the social media platform.
Admitting that ‘it takes a village,’ the soap star said that despite becoming parents at a young age they ‘never struggled’ thanks to their family.
Speaking to OK! magazine, Jac said: ‘It really takes a village to raise a family and I have a village around me. My husband is incredible.
‘He also works and is very busy, so when we’re juggling, we’re usually juggling together. Luckily my mum is incredible too, and so is Dan’s dad, so we have a lot of help and support.
‘Me and Dan were young parents, but we didn’t struggle. Again, the “village” helped. That has always been the case for me – I’ve always had amazing friends and family around me.’
Months after they rekindled following a brief split in March last year, Dan apparently sent flirty text messages to Christine McGuinness, 37.
The former TOWIE star and Paddy McGuinness’s ex failed in their attempts to hide their growing bond from as far back as 2019, after it was reported the pair have leant on one another during their respective marriage woes.
It was claimed that the pair exchanged ‘flirty texts’ while acting as a source of comfort during their personal struggles and they were previously pictured together at London’s The Hoxton hotel in March 2023.
Sources had claimed that Christine and Dan comforted each other through their marital woes, and exchanged a string of flirty texts in which the model reportedly called Dan ‘D’.
After news of their close friendship came to light, Christine reportedly said she is ‘absolutely adamant nothing sexual happened between them both’, with Dan suggesting the messages are ‘deep fakes or AI’.
Months after they rekindled following a brief split in March last year, Dan apparently sent flirty text messages with Christine McGuinness, 37 (pictured)
Dan and Jacqueline’s relationship has been plagued by accusations of infidelity and in 2018 Dan was linked to Love Island’s Gabby Allen (pictured)
A source close to Christine told The Sun that Dan ‘mainly led the way with texts’, which often involved ‘platonic stuff about their kids’.
Dan and Jacqueline’s relationship has been plagued by accusations of infidelity and in 2018 Dan was linked to Love Island’s Gabby Allen after they were spotted getting close on a yacht in Marbella.
Previously, The Sun claimed that Dan sent ‘flirty messages’ to his former Celebrity Big Brother co-star Gabby – months after the pair vehemently denied claims that they’d had an illicit tryst.
In March 2019 rumours began to circulate that he had kissed Love Island’s Alexandra Cane in a nightclub, which they both denied.
That December he was rocked by cheating claims after it was alleged he engaged in a threesome with his Celebrity Big Brother co-stars Natalie Nunn and Chloe Ayling last year – which he strongly denied – while Jacqueline was in the I’m A Celebrity jungle.
After endless denials, Dan finally admitted he had been unfaithful and then referenced his misgivings.
Speaking about their marriage woes, Dan previously told The Sun: ‘I’ve made mistakes, yeah. I’ve done things I shouldn’t have done. Me and Jac have spoken about that and she has forgiven me.
‘I know in the past I’ve denied things when they’re not true, then when something has been true, I probably just kept my mouth shut. I was a different person.’