Strictly's Ola Jordan attacked at bowling alley

Strictly's Ola Jordan attacked at bowling alley
Strictly's Ola Jordan attacked at bowling alley (Image credit: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing's Ola Jordan has been left badly shaken after being attacked by a woman at a bowling alley in South London. The Sun reports that the 28-year-old - who was at a friend's birthday party at the Croydon venue - was targeted by the unnamed assailant in an unprovoked attack. Her dancer husband James, who also appears on the show, was reportedly outside at the time. Witnesses said that the woman leapt across the lanes to reach Ola before punching her in the face. Her male companion was later arrested, and according to reports was cautioned by police for threatening behaviour. "Ola could not believe it," a source told the paper. "This woman came flying at her and smashed her really hard. "She was laughing and so were her friends. It was even more shocking as she was there with her kids. "Ola's the nicest person you could wish to meet. She was left a total mess." A spokeswoman for the Polish-born dancer said she was 'incredibly shocked' by the assault. Ola and husband James are regulars on Strictly Come Dancing, and she previously won the 2009 series partnering Chris Hollins. He made it to the 2010 final as the professional partner of Pamela Stephenson.

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.