'Strictly's' James Jordan says he gave up smoking as it was his dad's dying wish

Former Strictly Come Dancing pro James Jordan has revealed he gave up smoking because it was his dad’s dying wish.

The TV star said that he smoked for 27 years but that he was inspired to give up by his late dad Allan, who passed away in 2021 after having been diagnosed with a stage four brain tumour.

He said his two-year-old daughter Ella, who he shares with wife Ola Jordan, was also a major factor in him stubbing out the cigarettes for good.

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Jordan – who is supporting this year's Stoptober campaign - told MailOnline: “It upsets me now to say it actually but I remember my dad saying to me, 'I'm so sad I’m not gonna see your daughter grow up.'

"And it just hit home really. 'What am I doing smoking these bloody cigarettes? I don't need to do this. If my dad can go what he's going through, I can quit smoking for my daughter'."

The TV star, 44, said that at one point he was spending £100 a week on cigarettes.

And he said now that he has given it up he feels much fitter.

Jordan has previously shared that he suffered anxiety attacks in the wake of his dad's death.

He told The Sun last year that he hadn’t realised how powerful grief was.

“I didn’t realise what it would do to me, and what it would do to my body and how it would affect me, I’ve never suffered from it,” he said.

“But I understand that mental health is a massive thing, and I am a firm believer in supporting all of that.

Read more: James Jordan wishes he and wife Ola had children sooner

“As my dad would’ve said, ‘Unfortunately it’s part of life son.’ And it is.”

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