Lions star who was married to Chloe Madeley and had 'blind date' with Helen Skelton is now a DJ
The British and Irish Lions are set to conclude their tour against Australia and aim to make history, reminding fans of past stars who may have missed the mark. One such player is James Haskell, who was part of the 2017 Lions squad that ended their New Zealand series in a controversial draw.
Andy Farrell's team have already clinched victory with a 2-0 lead Down Under, hoping to be the first Lions team to sweep a three-game series in Oz since 1904. The tour wraps up with a thrilling third Test at Stadium Australia on Saturday in Sydney, where anticipation remains high despite the series outcome being decided.
Even though six years have passed since his retirement, former England flanker Haskell will be joining the celebrations. In fact, Wales Online reported he'll be partly in charge of post-match proceedings in Sydney's city centre as he continues to shine in his new career.
Haskell, as he is known by his stage name, has announced he'll be DJing in the city centre after Saturday's finale. And there might just be a few familiar 110kg figures cutting shapes on the dance floor once the rugby action simmers.
After retiring in 2019, Haskell, who also appeared on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here, transitioned into music not long after. Unlike his brief stint in mixed martial arts, his time behind the decks seems to be standing the test of time.
The 40-year-old has been trailing the Lions around Australia during this summer's tour, eight years since he donned the famous red jersey himself. And the budding club entertainer seems to be carving out quite a niche for himself in this particular field.
Ex-Northampton Saints and Wasps star Haskell was previously hitched to fitness guru and lifestyle blogger Chloe Madeley. It's hardly shocking Madeley built her own media empire given her parents are the legendary ITV double act Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.
The pair began their romance in 2014 and tied the knot four years later. They welcomed daughter Bodhi in August 2022 but called time on their marriage the following year.
Both have spoken about their dedication to co-parenting their daughter despite the split. Yet Haskell has owned up to his boozing being a contributing factor in their break-up after Chloe branded the run-up to their divorce as "incredibly scary."
"If I put more time into my marriage than I did Guinness, then I wouldn't be divorced now," Haskell told MailOnline in June. "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 crossed paths with Madeley, Haskell also enjoyed a blind date with the BBC's Helen Skelton back in 2010. By all accounts, their fleeting romance went rather swimmingly.
"I'd like to," she told The Guardian when asked about the prospect of a second date. "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."
Beyond spinning tracks, Haskell has turned his hand to entrepreneurship, launching Blackeye Gin with podcast buddies Mike Tindall and Alex Payne. His repertoire extends to after-dinner speaking gigs and penning a series of books that draw from his life and rugby experiences.
Haskell jetted off to New Zealand as a last-minute call-up for the 2017 Lions tour, stepping in for the injured Billy Vunipola. Despite making four appearances that summer, a Test cap eluded him with the prestigious touring team.
Yet Haskell isn't dwelling on past disappointments; instead, he's setting the vibe with his DJ sets during this year's successful series. And his Australian adventure is set to wrap up with a bang following the Sydney finale on Saturday.
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