Lions ace was married to daughter of TV royalty and is now DJ and music producer

Irish Daily Mirror

6 days ago

History is at stake for the British and Irish Lions as they face Australia on Saturday, but legions of rugby stars haven't been so fortunate.
One such individual is James Haskell, who was part of the 2017 Lions squad that controversially drew their series in New Zealand. Andy Farrell's team have already clinched victory by taking a 2-0 lead Down Under, with aspirations to become the first Lions team to sweep a three-game series in Oz since 1904.
The tour culminates with a thrilling third Test at Stadium Australia in Sydney, where anticipation remains high despite the series' inevitable outcome. Even though six years have passed since his retirement, former England flanker Haskell will be joining the celebrations in Sydney.
In fact, he'll be partially in charge of post-match proceedings as he continues to excel in his new career. This comes after Haskell, known on stage by his surname, announced he'll be DJing in the city centre following the conclusion of Saturday's finale.
And there might just be a few familiar 110kg figures on the dance floor once the on-pitch action cools down. Haskell, who featured on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here following his retirement in 2019, transitioned into music shortly after hanging up his boots.
Unlike his brief career in mixed martial arts, his stint on the decks has endured so far. The 40-year-old has been tracking the Lions through the Bush during this summer's tour, eight years since he made the journey himself. And the budding club performer seems to be in demand.
The ex-Northampton Saints and Wasps star was formerly wed to fitness and lifestyle blogger Chloe Madeley. And it's hardly surprising Madeley has built her own media career considering her mum and dad are the legendary ITV pair, Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.
The two began their romance in 2014 and tied the knot four years down the line. They had a daughter, Bodhi, in August 2022, but revealed their separation the following year.
Both have spoken about their dedication to co-parenting their little girl in a positive environment following their break up. Yet Haskell has acknowledged his alcohol consumption played a role in their marriage ending after Chloe branded the time before their divorce as "incredibly scary." Haskell was married to Chloe Madeley for five years (Image: Neil Mockford)
"If I put more time into my marriage than I did Guinness, then I wouldn't be divorced now," Haskell told MailOnline earlier this year. "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."
Years before he even encountered Madeley, Haskell also enjoyed a blind date with BBC host Helen Skelton back in 2010. And from all reports, their short-lived fling went rather smoothly.
"I'd like to," she told The Guardian when asked if she'd fancy a second date at the time. "He's fit, he made me laugh and it was good banter. We kissed. I think if we were both in the same country for more than five minutes, we'd go out and have a laugh. But he's off to Australia and I'm off to Singapore. Maybe we'll rendezvous in Terminal 5." Haskell earned 77 caps for his country (Image: David Rogers - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
Alongside his DJ career, Haskell has also launched Blackeye Gin with podcast colleagues Mike Tindall and Alex Payne. He additionally works as an after-dinner speaker and has penned several autobiographical and educational books documenting his experiences and professional journey.
Haskell travelled to New Zealand for the 2017 Lions tour as cover for former Saracens ace Billy Vunipola. He featured four times during that campaign but couldn't secure a Test appearance for the select squad.
Nevertheless, he's compensating for missed opportunities by supplying the musical backdrop to a triumphant tour this time round. And he'll wrap up his own sightseeing adventure Down Under in spectacular style following Saturday's Sydney showdown.