Former TOWIE star Dan Osborne announced his marriage split from wife Jacqueline Jossa last month but the pair have left fans confused by going on a loved-up holiday weeks later

Dan Osborne ‘sick of living fake life’ with Jacqueline Jossa as ‘truth’ unveiled(Image: Instagram)

Dan Osborne’s close friends have claimed his relationship with Jacqueline Jossa is more ‘complicated’ than ever. Despite reportedly ending their eight-year marriage last month, the pair confused fans when they looked every inch a couple in love on their recent holiday with their two daughters Ella, 9, and Mia, 6, in Mexico.

The ‘make-or-break’ holiday – which also saw them joined by Dan’s son, 11, from a previous relationship and Jac’s mum Selina – seemed to have worked some magic as a source told The Mirror that the pair are ‘trying to fall back in love with each other again.’

As they lay by the pool, EastEnders favourite Jac, 33, was seen beaming as her former TOWIE star husband Dan, 33, seemed to nuzzle her neck playfully as she relaxed on a sunbed at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.

Their loving interactions gave every indication that they couldn’t be happier on their getaway – but Dan’s friends have reportedly been left highly confused after laying their eyes on the snaps.

The couple had been married for eight years before announcing their split(Image: Instagram/ @jacjossa)

According to the reality TV star’s loved ones, Jac and Dan live a very different life ‘behind closed doors’ in comparison to what they portray in public.

Speaking to Mail Online, a source close to Dan said: “Jac wants the world to see that things are perfect: she has a handsome husband, two beautiful kids and a great job. But behind closed doors, things are not like that. She has wanted to keep the family image alive but things were not going well between them.”

The insider also claimed that the former TOWIE star is ‘fed up’ of living a ‘fake’ life for the benefit of the public opinion – but Jacqueline reportedly feels very differently about it all.

Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne are reportedly trying to work through their split(Image: GC Images)

They said: “Dan found it very difficult, he would say that things were pretty awful between them at times and he knew that they had to end it but she didn’t want that. Dan was fed up of living this fake life.

“In fact, when the word started to get out about their split, Jac wanted it denied while Dan was more keen that it was out there and enlisted in the help of some industry experts to help him.”

It comes after an onlooker at the five-star hotel where Dan and Jac were staying on their holiday said: “Dan and Jac looked like any normal couple. There were a few Brits at the resort, but no one recognised them and they were left alone to relax and enjoy quality time together.”

Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne announced their split last month(Image: Instagram/ @jacjossa)

The public display of affection for one another was a far cry from the turbulent place the couple, whose relationship has been severely tested in the past, seemed to be in a month ago when they made the shock announcement they were going their separate ways.

In a joint statement issued by the couple it was revealed: “Jacqueline and Dan are handling things privately. Their children remain their top priority, surrounded by love and care from both parents – something that will never change.” Not long after, Jac, who plays Lauren Branning in EastEnders, was pictured having secretly spent a night at Dan’s house.

Back in January, the couple were not for the first time forced to deny split claims, with friends saying they were “upset and hurt” at the allegations, after they put their home up for sale.

Dan and Jacqueline Jossa began dating in 2013 and married in 2017(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The couple, who met in 2013, tied the knot in 2017 at a country manor house in Cheshire. But their union has been rocked by cheating scandals. Dan was seen getting cosy with Love Islander Gabby Allen on a yacht in Marbella in April 2018. However, both Dan and Gabby denied any wrongdoing.

This was followed a month later by reports that Jac, who was pregnant at the time, had squared up to a mystery woman over claims of a romp with Dan just months after the couple’s wedding.

In 2020, Jacqueline denied reports that she had walked out on her husband after questioning him over a flirty message to Gabby, who apparently did not respond. Dan confessed publicly to having made “mistakes”. He said: “I’ve done things I shouldn’t have done.” In recent years the couple’s marriage seemed more steady however, that changed following recent speculation over their marriage and an announcement the pair had split.

The Mirror has approached Dan and Jacqueline’s respective representatives for comment on this story.