HE was embroiled in one of football’s most toxic splits after admitting to cheating on his ex-wife Danielle Lloyd.
But over a decade after they divorced, has revealed a shocking twist in their once-fragile relationship – and opened up on his huge plans for family life after overcoming “a lot of difficult years”.
Jamie O’Hara was previously married to TV personality Danielle Lloyd, pictured in 2010, before their toxic split in 2014Credit: Getty – Contributor
Despite their acrimonious break-up, he and Danielle have turned over a surprising new leafCredit: Getty – Contributor
Jamie now co-presents The Sports Bar show on TalkSPORTCredit: Talksport
Speaking to The Sun, the former Premier League star, 39, says he is a changed man thanks to his new fiancée Keziah Grubb, who has helped transform his relationship with his ex-wife in a way “we haven’t had before”.
“It was difficult for a number of years – it really was,” Jamie explains of his relationship with .
“There was a lot of anger towards certain situations, but we’ve grown past that now, and it’s a really nice place to be, and we’ve not had it for a long time.
“It’s nice that I can phone her, and she can phone me, and , Jamie’s fiancée] will phone her and have a chat.
“It’s just a good dynamic, and I think it’s a nice place to be in terms of where I was before.”
He adds: “I think maturity and age [have helped].
“The person I’m with now has really helped me with being a better person, and a better version of myself.”
Jamie also says he’s reached out to support Danielle, 41, who revealed earlier this year she was receiving treatment for skin cancer .
“I spoke to her the other day, and she seems to be ok,” he says. “As soon as I heard about it, I phoned her straight away and sent my regards to her.”
The former couple married in 2012 and split in 2014, after it was revealed that .
Danielle later said in an interview that – after going away to to clear her head – she was blindsided as the revelations kept pouring in.
She said: “I know Jamie loves his family but there is no going back. I’ve forgiven, but can’t forget.”
Personal growth
Jamie subsequently entered an on-off relationship with model Elizabeth Tierney, which finally ended in 2018 , amid reports she was “tired of being overshadowed” by Jamie’s fame.
Reflecting on his prior notorious reputation, Jamie says he barely recognises the man he used to be. And his growth has had an amazing impact on his relationship with his ex-wife.
The pair share three sons – Archie, 15, Harry, 13, and George, 11. Danielle also shares son Ronnie, seven, and three-year-old Autumn Rose with her husband .
According to Jamie, they and their respective partners now have a great relationship – owed in part to Keziah, whom Jamie credits for making him a better version of himself.
They met two years ago – and though Jamie’s football fame and party boy rep often precedes him, he was happy to learn she had no idea who he was.
“She’d have never gone [if she knew I was a footballer]”, he laughs. “I think she found out when we were chatting and had already first met.
“She didn’t know, but once we got chatting and got to know more about each other, it just naturally happened.”
Jamie is now engaged to Keziah GrubbCredit: Instagram @jamie.ohara
The pair celebrated their engagement in MarchCredit: Instagram @jamie.ohara
Jamie explains that Keziah’s not fussed by the glitz and glam of fame and WAG-dom.
“I took her to Soho House in London for our first date,” he says. “You know I had to give it the big one, and I’ve got a Soho House membership.
“But she wasn’t bothered. She does her own thing, and she’s got her own recruitment company, and she earns more money than me, so I always say to her that she is my retirement plan now!”
He adds: “We don’t like the limelight – well she definitely doesn’t like the limelight!”
Third time lucky
He and Keziah got engaged earlier this year in March – and this time, he says, it’s for keeps.
As far as he’s concerned, his luck in love has been a long time coming, following one failed marriage and another failed engagement.
“This is third time lucky, I think,” he says. “I was married once to , but I was also engaged to which ended in disaster.
“We split up, and then she started going out with [’s ex-boyfriend] Kris Boyson which was a strange one.
“But I’m now engaged to the lucky lady, so happy days! She’s an amazing woman, and hopefully I get this one right.”
The TalkSPORT presenter jokes that he and Keziah met on a night out – before confessing they actually met the modern way: via a dating app.
“We met in a bar,” he begins. “You know what, I’m lying. I met her on – I took her for a drink after that.
“I was on [the app] for about a week, and I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.
After his divorce, Jamie was engaged to model Elizabeth Jane-Tierney, before splitting in 2018Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2007Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
“I thought I would give it a go – I was bored, and she popped up. I was the first person she went out with, and we just both got on. It was love at first sight in a way – I just loved everything about her. So, the dating websites do work.”
Hinge, that is – not celebrity dating app , which carries a very exclusive application process for A-list daters.
“I got binned off that one,” Jamie admits. “I don’t think they wanted me – they didn’t accept me. I wasn’t quite big enough for that one.”
It’s now been two years since their fortuitous meeting, and Jamie and Keziah are now excitedly planning their big day. But first, they’re having a “messy” engagement do.
I got binned off Raya…I wasn’t quite big enough for that one
Jamie O'Hara
He reveals: “We’re going to get married in . It won’t be a glitzy wedding.
“First, we’re having a big engagement party with all our friends and family.
“I’ve made a few friends over the years who are going to perform for me, being one of them.
“ [MC Harvey of So Solid Crew fame] is my mate, and he said he is going to rock up, and we’ve got a few DJs, so that’s going to be the messy one, and then the classy one will be in Portugal.
“The messy one is going to be around town at home.”
Showing off Keziah’s sparkler on InstagramCredit: Instagram @jamie.ohara
Jamie’s delighted that he and Danielle, pictured in 2014, have now strengthened their co-parenting relationshipCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Huge family plans
Looking ahead, the dad-of-three has high hopes for the future. First, there’s that wedding on the horizon – then he and Keziah hope to add to their modern family.
He reveals they’re going to have “two more” – adding: “That’s the plan.”
In the meantime, he’s very happy with the status quo, reflecting: “Me and Danielle get on great now.
“Keziah and her talk all the time, so it’s a really good dynamic that we’ve got and that we haven’t had before.
“It’s great, I’m really happy, and I’m in a really good place.”
