Why Louise Redknapp really walked away from boyfriend revealed by pals… as ‘history repeats’ 9 years after Jamie split

AFTER two years of dating, Louise Redknapp is single once again. But insiders tell us that far from dwelling on the break up, the singer, 51, has never had more clarity – and reveal why they really think her romance with Drew Michael ended up fizzling out. Louise Redknapp is now single following her split from Drew Michael Credit: Getty After two years of dating the pair called time on their romance Credit: Instagram The Sun told this week how the ex-Eternal star had quietly called it quits with the former Army officer, 42, earlier this year. They had been dating since autumn 2023 but we’re told that in the end they failed to see eye-to-eye over their future and called time on the relationship. Drew is believed to have left the UK, while Louise has had time to think about what she really wants in life. Discussing the break-up, a source close to Louise explained: “Louise has reached a point in her life where she is genuinely happy with what she has. She loves her life with her boys, and now they’re getting older she’s got herself back, she’s doing her own thing and she’s the happiest she’s ever been since her marriage ended. “She’s built a new life she feels incredibly content with. She simply realised she didn’t want to go through marriage and starting a new family all over again. “Drew wanted to settle down and build a future with her, but Louise’s priorities are very different now. She has done a huge amount of healing since her marriage to Jamie ended and she’s finally in a really good place.” It was her first serious romance since the breakdown of her 19-year marriage to football pundit Jamie Redknapp, 53, almost a decade ago and insiders believe that the memory of that still haunts her. Our insider continued: “Jamie was the love of Louise’s life and that relationship shaped her in a huge way. “This wasn’t about Louise not loving Drew. She absolutely did. But she had to be honest with herself and she knows in her heart that it’s not something she wants to repeat. “She’s happy with her life, happy with her sons and she didn’t want to compromise that by going through something she no longer felt she needed. “Louise has realised that marriage isn’t something she needs to make her life complete. She’s been there, she’s done it, and she knows what that commitment means. “She’s happier than she’s been in years and she doesn’t want to risk that.” Indeed, friends say Louise is thriving as a singleton and she recently jetted off twice on girls’ trips to Ibiza. She is also now gearing up for her Naked Confessions UK tour next spring, when she will perform songs from her latest album and mark 30 years since her solo debut, Naked. It’s her first tour in eight years and a chance for her to get back doing what she loves best. It’s been a long journey to get to this point. It’s fair to say that Louise’s self-esteem plummeted in the wake of her high-profile divorce from former footballer Jamie – the father of her sons, Charley, 20, and Beau, 16 – in 2017, after two decades together. Louise had praised Drew for being good with her sons Credit: louiseredknapp/Instagram Louise is said to not want to marry again – despite being loved up Credit: Instagram Reflecting on their break-up, Louise candidly admitted she resented being a stay-at-home mum. “Although I was so pleased for him, it was a constant reminder that I wasn’t doing that any more,” she said. “I was the one just putting stuff in the oven, waiting for someone to come home from the job I wished I was doing. And I think that really does take its toll.” She made the decision to leave him just months after her time on Strictly Come Dancing came to an end in 2016. She made the final with her pro partner Kevin Clifton. Louise has a very close bond with her sons Charley and Beau Credit: instagram Louise spent years trying to get over her marriage to Jamie Redknapp Credit: Getty Louise revealed: “I didn’t want to lose so much of the good feeling. Before anyone could stop me, I just ran, as fast as the wind would take me. “I never once looked behind, until maybe too late. I should have paused for a minute and thought about other people and had just a bit more time to work out why I felt I couldn’t do it anymore. All I know is, I wish I’d tried.” Two years later, Jamie moved on with Swedish model Frida Andersson. The couple married in 2021 and had a son Raphael, now three. Meanwhile, Louise dated a few men, but no one serious, until she met Drew, a businessman nine years her junior, in October 2023. Louise has been enjoying single life in recent weeks Credit: Instagram/Louiseredknapp Louise had spoken highly about Drew but was a little more reserved when quizzed about marriage Credit: Rex Speaking about Drew last year, she said their relationship had inspired the track Manifesting on her fifth solo album, Confessions. She gushed: “Drew’s great. We’re having a lovely time together. It took me a long time to get to that place and be open about anything. I was very guarded and scared. But I’m really enjoying having special times with someone. He’s a great guy and super-kind.” He also bonded with her sons, which was a bonus. “What’s great is he’s brilliant on a friendship level with the boys,” she said. “They get on great with him. And that, for me, is super-important. There’s just a real mutual respect there. Obviously Beau is still at school, but we spend a lot of time together.” She was a little more reserved when quizzed about marriage in the future though, insisting she tries to just be present “in the here and now”. And that is exactly what she appears to be doing.