BBC Strictly Come Dancing winner 'sad' to confirm split from wife of nine years

Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba has confirmed his split from wife Portia after nine years. He took to social media on Thursday morning (October 17) to reveal he and Portia went their separate ways earlier this year.

In a post on his Instagram Story, Ore wrote: "Hi guys. Portia and I are sad to announce that we separated earlier this year. We’re so grateful for all the love you’ve shared with us both over the years.

"And we want to thank you in advance for respecting our privacy as we navigated this difficult transition. We will be making no further comment. Be kind, always."

READ MORE: Liam Payne was 'proud dad' before tragic death as fans support Cheryl and son Bear

Portia, who shares son Roman, six, and three-year-old daughter Genie with her ex-husband, shared the same statement on her Instagram Stories.

Ore - who won Strictly in 2016 - previously admitted he couldn't stop crying on his wedding day. He told the Mirror: "On my wedding day I cried from 11 in the morning until 2am that night. There's a picture of me wailing, my best men there laughing and Portia absolutely cracking up next to me - I am the only one crying."

In 2018, Ore admitted he wished he could've given birth to Roman for Portia. Speaking on author Giovanna Fletcher's 'Happy Mum Happy Baby' podcast, he said: "I was thinking on the way here, I was thinking if I could share some of that load and bear the child I would love to because I think it's nice to have that empathy.

"The point I was going to say was the delivery of the child, I don't think I have the strength to do it because when I, we were in the delivery room and Roman was being born, that whole period of Portia going into labour, I was blown away, absolutely blown away by the character, and the strength of character and the super human abilities."