Latest news with #ExtraordinaryLifeStories
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Strictly winner opens up about finding 'strength' after sibling's suicide
Strictly Come Dancing star Ore Oduba has bravely spoken about losing his sibling to suicide. The TV presenter, who won the BBC dance show in 2016 with Joanne Clifton, was rocked by the devastating news of Lola's death in April. Ore, who admits it's been 'a really difficult year' for his family, has now shifted his outlook on life, with the terrible tragedy reminding him that 'we don't know when our last day is'. Appearing on the John Reynolds' Extraordinary Life Stories podcast, the former CBBC presenter began: 'I guess we have been through a really difficult year as a family, and I was very ready for that to kick off a new chapter in my life, and it did. 'I'm grateful to him (Dad) for everything he gave us. I wasn't prepared to lose my sister.' Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Ore's lawyer father is in his eighties. He lives in Nigeria, and it's rare they get to see one another, with Ore last documenting their reunion on Instagram in 2022 as he travelled over for the first time in three years post-pandemic. On his sister's death, he explained that they came out to loved ones in a note left behind. Being non-binary means a person does not identify as exclusively a man or a woman. 'She has been with me every day since. My sister is non-binary; they told us in their goodbye letter. They've been with me every day since, and what my sister did in choosing to find a peace in death that they couldn't find in life—that was strength. That was courage, and that was brave.' He continued: 'And having gone through the last four or five years of their life and hearing about their struggles physically and emotionally, when actually my sister did more living in the actual five years of their life than the previous 32, and still made a decision that they couldn't carry on living in this world. 'What they did for all of us in those last weeks, that has given me the strength every day, and my responsibility now is to carry that legacy because nothing is hard compared to what my sister went through.' On how his own focus has changed in the wake of his grief, Ore has now realised that there simply 'isn't time'. 'So I'm going to make the most of every single second I have left.' Ore added that he can't stress enough how much such a devastating event 'puts life into perspective'. 'None of this stuff matters, but you can wrestle what is really important back before it is too late, so that is what I'm doing now.' Ore's comments come after another sad blow in his personal life in recent months, as he announced in October that he was splitting from his wife. He and Portia met at Loughborough University in 2010 and married five years later, going on to welcome children Roman, seven, and Genie, four. In his statement announcing their separation, Ore confirmed that they officially parted ways earlier in 2024. 'We're so grateful for all the love you've shared with us both over the years,' he shared. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video '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.' Ore has often spoken about his marriage to the TV researcher, who is the daughter of Nick 'Animal' Culmer, lead singer of the punk rock band Anti-Nowhere League, in the press. In 2021, he opened up about the challenges of parenting: 'My wife and I will be 10 years together next month, and we've never done anything more challenging than the last 12 months. There were tears, tantrums. 'Roman has enhanced our world more than we could have dreamt but there are times we have to remember that we love each other, and that's why he's here. He's been our guardian angel in lockdown, but he's also been the cause of a few little tiffs.' Ore confessed at the time that it was 'hard finding time for each other' but that 'communication is key'. 'We don't go to bed in an argument.' More Trending The West End star, who is remembered for Strictly performances such as his jive to Runaway Baby, has also long insisted that his wife was fully supportive of his stint on the programme, shutting down any worries of the so-called 'curse' striking. 'We were very fortunate, because actually my wife was the kind of woman who said, 'Can you get back in that rehearsal room with that wonderful woman, because you need to be a better dancer',' he previously joked. 'We were a year married, and thankfully we got through it.' View More » MORE: Strictly couple who met on show engaged after two years of dating MORE: Strictly star 'almost turned down' show over terrifying stalking ordeal MORE: Strictly's Motsi Mabuse shares update after bitter legal battle with ex-husband
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Strictly winner Ore Oduba opens up on self-discovery after tragic death of sibling
Strictly Come Dancing 2016 winner Ore Oduba has opened up about the heartbreaking death of his sister, and his deeply painful loss changed his entire outlook on life Sports broadcaster Ore Oduba has opened up about the heartbreaking death of his sibling, Lola, admitting that the loss of them changed his whole outlook on life. The BBC Sport host, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 alongside Joanne Clifton, revealed how his family has had a "really difficult year". Speaking on John Reynolds' Extraordinary Life Stories podcast, Ore, 39, spoke about his deeply personal and painful experience of losing his sister. He explained: "I wasn't prepared to lose my sister. She's been with me every day since. "My sister's non-binary, they told us in their goodbye letter. They've been with me every day since. What my sister did in choosing to find peace in death that they couldn't find in life - that was strength, that was courage, and that was brave. "And having gone through the last four or five years of their life and hearing about these troubles they were dealing with physically and emotionally. And actually, my sister did more living in the last five years of their life than in the previous 32 and still made a decision that they couldn't carry on in this world. "What they did for all of us in those last weeks, that's given me the strength every day. And my responsibility now is to carry that legacy, because nothing is hard compared to what my sister went through." Ore's sister, Lola, sadly died in April this year, a year after the presenter divorced from his wife of nine years, Portia Oduba. Ore said how his sister's death gave him a completely new outlook on life, adding: "We don't know when our last day is, and the truth is there isn't time, there isn't time. So I'm going to make the most of every single second I've got left. "I can't say enough, when you've been through something that puts life into perspective, your whole outlook changes. None of this stuff matters, John, none of it matters. But you can wrestle what is really important back before it's too late." Ore showed his support on social media for Lola earlier this month, revealing his sibling identified as non-binary, using they/them pronouns, towards the end of their life. He began: "Lots of people have been asking about the rainbow in my bio... some will say I don't need to explain myself (and they'd be right) however in this case I'm happy to share my why. It's maybe not why you think." He continued: "I've mentioned before about the longer you can withstanding a storm the closer you are to your rainbow. I'm so glad to have grown monumentally through a truly difficult, stormy period in my life. the colours of my rainbow look very bright today. "But in losing my sister in April the symbol of a rainbow has brought me closer to them in the times I've needed it desperately. My sister was very proudly black and very proudly queer. "Definitely an ICON to me and so many of their friends and family. In the last year of their life they identified as non-binary. My pride for them knows no bounds. "Despite doing a whole lot of living in their latter years, my sister spent much of their life in shame and humiliation of who they were. In so many ways, my sister's death gave ME a gift of life. "Having realised I'd lived the majority of my life for the attention of others, often suppressing my authentic self, my sister gave me the wake up call to live my life fully and express myself wholeheartedly. And that is what I plan to do. It's certainly the version of me I want to mirror for my children." Ore then addressed his sexuality, writing: "So am I gay, as someone keenly asked me on insta yesterday. No, not in the traditional or sexual sense. "But if 'coming out' is about shedding a former self to put forward the new, truest version of me, without the shame, the hiding, without the second-guessing whether any decision will make me happy rather than how others perceive me, how I cheerlead others with kindness and compassion, with occasionally quiet, or loud, flamboyance, depending on the mood, and a big dollop of camp then HALLELUJAH - count me in!"
