James Haskell admits he still has “legal battles ahead” following his split from Chloe Madeley as he confides in his rugby pal Mike Tindall

James Haskell has confided in his rugby boyfriend Mike Tindall after announcing he has split from his wife Chloe Madeley.

Chloe, 36, and James, 38, announced the end of their marriage last week, just over a year after welcoming their first child, daughter Bodhi.

In the days since the announcement, former England international James has spoken about the difficult time with Zara Tindall’s husband Mike and admitted they were preparing for a court battle.

The two chatted on Wednesday night for the second date of the live tour of their podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, with James tackling the big topic head-on.

“So for those of you who don’t know, my wife and I are separated,” he told the audience at the London Palladium. “We are separated but are 100 percent committed to my daughter.”

Close: James Haskell has confided in his rugby boyfriend Mike Tindall after announcing he has split from his wife Chloe Madeley

“It’s obviously a complicated time and we have to take it out in front of the media. “Because I haven’t said anything, people are filling that gap and that silence.”

“And obviously there’s been a lot of guesswork this week, the last three or four weeks.”

Despite some heated scenes together on their ITV reality show A Family Affair, James insisted he and Chloe “don’t really fight” while speaking to Mike and Alex Payne.

However, he admitted that he needed a lawyer friend for “business” after the split, saying: “We’ve had some court battles, we’ve got some court battles coming up, and a few other little things.”

During the event with his pal, James mentioned his breakup with Chloe several times and once joked that he “needs” his public school education to charm girls.

In one skit he teased: “Rum and milk? Has he been a prostitute since 1835? I think Jack the Ripper killed someone with gin and milk. Sweeney Todd cuts his heroin…good credentials, educated, public school, no worries. Quadruple Threat. I’m going to need it now that I’m single. I’m just kidding. Not really, though.’

On Tuesday night, James made a series of vile comments while recording another episode of the podcast.

During the show, he and his co-hosts performed to a packed house at the G Live Center in Guildford, Surrey – with James mentioning his failed relationship several times during the two-and-a-half hour performance.

Separation: Chloe, 36, and James, 38, announced the end of their marriage last week, just over a year after welcoming their first child, daughter Bodhi

Convo: James opened up about the difficult time with Zara Tindall’s husband Mike and admitted they were preparing for a court battle. The pair chatted on Wednesday night for the second date of the live tour of their podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby.

Example: Despite some heated scenes together on their ITV reality show A Family Affair, James insisted while speaking to Mike that he and Chloe “don’t really argue.”

During the first half of the show, the audience had laughed as he made fun of himself, but it was his joke, which referenced the collapse of the Twin Towers that killed nearly 3,000 people in 2001, that took over an audibly sharp intake of breath led from the crowd.

James – who littered his performance with four-letter words – told a story about former England coach Andy Farrell, who urged players to be honest with him and staff about their methods at the team training center.

He said: “He went straight to Tom Wood, right, former player, and he collapsed like the Twin Towers…”

Then the audience gasped and someone shouted “Jesus!”

James said, “What? Too obscene? Damn, that was the 9/11 idiot, it’s time to get over it in 2023.’

As the audience turned uncomfortably in their seats, he continued, “I’m just kidding, kidding.”

Then he laughed nervously and added: “It’s all right. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not coming back to Guildford, it’s fine.’

His co-hosts covered their heads as he cracked the joke and then continued to tell the anecdote to the hushed crowd, with someone overhearing him telling a pal: “That was a bit exaggerated.”

The podcast recording was James’ first professional engagement since announcing the end of his five-year marriage to Chloe.

End of an era: The podcast recording was James’ first professional engagement since announcing the end of his five-year marriage to Chloe (pictured in 2018)

Chloe and James, who married in 2018, had fueled speculation about their relationship after the personal trainer appeared without her wedding ring while partying with friends – shortly after the former rugby player was pictured chatting to a mystery blonde outside a London nightspot.

In a joint update shared on Instagram last week, they announced: “Chloe and I have mutually decided to separate at the end of September 2023.”

“We had no plans to release a statement at the time – especially not while the TV show was airing – but constant speculation about our marriage unfortunately forced us to do so.

“Beyond this statement, we will not speak publicly about this matter and ask for privacy at this time.”

“Our only focus now is our beautiful daughter. “We will continue to co-parent with nothing but love.”