Ore Oduba: Split, Kids, Current Projects & Recovery

Few people remember exactly where they were when they watched the 2016 Strictly Come Dancing final. Ore Oduba does – he was on the dancefloor, lifting the Glitterball trophy. Since then, his life has taken turns no one could have predicted: a public separation from his wife Portia, a career shift into acting, and a very personal story about a long‑running addiction and recovery.

Full name: Ore Oduba ·
Born: 17 November 1985, London, UK ·
Occupation: TV and radio presenter, actor ·
Known for: Winning Strictly Come Dancing 2016 ·
Marital status (2025): Separated from Portia Oduba ·
Children: Two

Seven key facts paint a clear picture of Ore Oduba’s life across career, family, and personal challenges.

Have Portia and Ore split up?

Confirmation of separation

In October 2024, Ore Oduba announced that he and his wife Portia had ended their nine‑year marriage. The news was first reported by the Evening Standard (London newspaper), which confirmed the couple had separated and were living apart from early 2024. Ore later said the pair had decided to part ways at the beginning of that year, according to Yahoo News UK.

Public statements from Portia Oduba

Portia Oduba has spoken about the separation in media interviews, describing it as a gradual and painful process. She has not given a single specific cause, but has emphasised that the decision was mutual and that the focus remains on their children. The Evening Standard quotes her as saying the family’s living situation after the split was “entirely different” from what it had been.

Timeline of the split

• 2015: Ore and Portia marry.
• Early 2024: The couple decide to separate.
• October 2024: Ore publicly announces the separation.
• Later coverage (2025/2026): The family home in Kent reportedly sold.

Does Ore see his kids?

Current custody arrangement

Portia Oduba has stated that Ore does see their two children, Roman and Genie, and that they are co‑parenting. The Evening Standard reported that the couple’s “main focus” is on the children and that Ore remains involved in their lives. No official custody order has been made public.

Portia’s comments on co‑parenting

In interviews, Portia has described the co‑parenting arrangement as working but “entirely different” from the family life they once had. She has not provided details about the split of time or living arrangements, only that the children are adjusting.

Public sightings of Ore with children

Ore has been photographed with his children on occasion, and his Instagram account occasionally features them, though he keeps their faces partially obscured. The Daily Mail reported that the sale of the family home was partly triggered by the children’s distress over the changed living situation.

What is Ore Oduba doing now?

Acting roles and recent projects

Ore has transitioned into acting, with credits on the BBC series Noughts + Crosses (2020) and the theatre production Curtains (2020). His IMDb page (IMDb) lists several television appearances, including Comedy Playhouse and The One Show.

Podcast and speaking engagements

He hosts a podcast called The Actorsss, where he interviews other performers about their craft. He also appears as a guest speaker on mental health and addiction, leveraging his own experience to advocate for online safety and recovery.

Addiction and mental health advocacy

In a series of interviews in early 2025, Ore opened up about a pornography addiction he says began at age 9 and lasted nearly 30 years. He told an interview channel that he had been free of the addiction for about 18 months and that speaking out was part of his recovery. He said he wanted to “save my kids” by guiding them about explicit material, as reported by The Sun (UK tabloid).

Why did Ore and Portia divorce?

Portia’s account of the split

Portia has described the split as “gradual and painful” in interviews with the Evening Standard. She has not blamed a single factor, but has indicated that the marriage had been under strain for some time.

Ore’s public response

Ore has not publicly detailed the reasons for the divorce. In his addiction‑related interviews, he acknowledged that his addiction “ruined my relationships” (YouTube interview) and that it had “brought him to the brink of suicide” (Daily Mail). He has not explicitly linked the addiction to the marriage breakdown, but the implication is clear.

No confirmed single cause

Neither party has attributed the divorce to a single event. Media reports (including The Mirror) cite “personal differences” and “the strain of public life.” The couple’s privacy around the reasons means any definitive cause remains unconfirmed.

How did Ore and Portia meet?

Early relationship timeline

Ore and Portia met at Loughborough University in 2010, according to the Evening Standard. They were together for several years before Ore’s rise to fame on Strictly Come Dancing.

Marriage and family life

The couple married in 2015 (exact date not officially confirmed). They welcomed two children, Roman and Genie, during the marriage. Portia was a constant presence at Ore’s public events, and they were often described as a close‑knit family.

Life after the split

Since the separation, Portia has moved out of the family home, and Ore has reportedly been living in a smaller flat. The sale of the Kent house was covered by the Daily Mail, which noted the children’s upset over the change.

Timeline

• 1985: Born in London
• 2016: Wins the fourteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing
• 2015: Marries Portia (year confirmed by Evening Standard)
• 2019–2021: Two children born (exact years not confirmed)
• 2020: Appears in Noughts + Crosses and Curtains
• 2023–2024: Portia Oduba confirms separation in media interviews
• 2025 (current): Ore hosts podcast The Actorsss; advocates for addiction and mental health awareness

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Ore and Portia have separated
• Ore sees his children
• Ore won Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 (BBC)
• Ore has acting credits on IMDB and BBC
• Ore discusses addiction publicly
• Ore spent thousands on pornography over 30 years

What’s unclear

• Exact date of separation
• Whether divorce has been filed
• Specific reasons for the split
• Names and ages of children (Roman and Genie reported but not verified)
• Ore’s net worth
• Whether the addiction directly caused the marriage breakdown

Quotes from the key figures

“I had been carrying the addiction for nearly 30 years.”

— Ore Oduba, in a video interview (2025)

“I want to save my kids.”

— Ore Oduba, explaining why he spoke out, as reported by The Sun

“The split was gradual and painful.”

— Portia Oduba, quoted in the Evening Standard

Ore Oduba’s story is one of public triumph and private struggle. The same man who captivated millions on a dancefloor now works to rebuild his life away from the spotlight – as a father, an actor, and a recovering addict. For his fans, the lesson is that even glittering success does not shield a person from deep personal pain. Ore Oduba now faces the challenge of balancing his acting career with co‑parenting and maintaining his recovery.

Frequently asked questions