Nadia Bartel tells more about mer marriage breakdown as Seven’s Ladies Night is a ratings success

AFL WAG Nadia Bartel has spoken about the emotional toll of her marriage breakdown with husband Jimmy as the ratings for Seven’s All New Monty: Ladies’ Night are in.

Nadia Bartel opened up about her split from husband Jimmy Bartel during an emotion charged TV appearance last night.

Bartel was one of eight brave ladies who bared all in The All New Monty: Ladies’ Night to raise awareness for breast cancer.

“It’s been a tough time personally for me recently,’’ Bartel said.

The program then went to cut away images of Bartel and her two sons, with the voice over: “It’s just so painful”.

Bartel is shown with her two children and with Jimmy, who was edited out in the final cut of the show despite being in the audience when Channel 7 filmed it.

Viewers then saw Bartel seemingly fight back tears before smiling and saying to the camera: “I’m hoping with Ladies Night it will give me more confidence.

“Obviously we’re there for the cause, but I just think it will be great for me to put myself out there doing something that is definitely totally out of my comfort zone.

“I think it will give me a whole new load of confidence.”

Bartel was clearly nervous but shone on stage during the performance.

“As awkward as we’re feeling, I’m just trying to think of the cause,’’ she said.

The program was the second top rating show across five metro cities last night, pulling in 1.031 million viewers.

Nadia Bartel on The All New Monty: Ladies' Night. Picture: Supplied

Bartel will keep her famous married name — for now — despite her acrimonious split with former Geelong Cats star, Jimmy.

The stunning 34-year-old lifestyle blogger and TV presenter is keeping mum on allegations her estranged husband cheated with his rumoured new London-based partner, Lauren Mand, but has gone public about her struggle parenting their two sons, Aston, 3 and Henley, 11 months on her own, while filming tonight’s Channel 7’s charity special for breast cancer, The All New Monty: Ladies Night.

“I was so post-partum and in the throws of being a mum, so it was challenging and the show was shot up in Sydney … so I brought the boys with me and had my mum there to help. I’d be up all night with the little one, then filming the show in the day,” she said.

Bartel was seven months pregnant with her second child and hobbling through her third trimester on crutches, when her agent pitched an unlikely job offer: nuding up (well almost) on national TV.

Seven's All New Monty: Ladies Night star Nadia Bartel. Picture: Nick Wilson/Seven

A nerve condition affecting one side of Bartel’s body, triggered by a bulging disc in her back, meant walking was a struggle — let alone stripping off and dancing with abandon before a live theatre audience of 2000 strangers.

But after staring down her own breast cancer scare in her early 20s, the 34-year-old fashion designer and lifestyle blogger would eventually throw herself into Seven’s All New Monty: Ladies Night — a celebrity strip tease choreographed to raise awareness for the disease.

Four months after giving birth to her son, Henley (a brother to her eldest boy, Aston, 3), the stunning blonde was learning the refined art of topless fan dancing alongside an all-star cast including swimmer Lisa Curry, singer Casey Donovan and fellow sporting WAG, Simone Callahan.

With Todd McKenney and Home & Away favourite, Georgie Parker leading the charge, the new mum packed up her two boys, and mum for support and flew to Sydney for rehearsals and to prepare to go bare.

Bosom buddies … Seven's All New Monty: Ladies Night cast: Lisa Kenny, Casey Donovan, Lynne McGranger, Simone Callahan, Georgie Parker, Ella Hooper, Rachael Finch and Nadia Bartel. Picture: Nick Wilson/Seven

As AFL fans will know now, her bold move would come just weeks before her private life would crumble — after discovering her husband and former Geelong player, Jimmy Bartel was allegedly having a long-distance affair with his new London-based partner, Lauren Mand.

It’s understood Bartel moved her children out of the marital home and in with her parents in June, before the details of shock separation became public on August 15.

He was in the audience for Bartel’s dance debut on Ladies Night, filmed back in April, but clever editing cut any sign of him from the final program.

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Seven's All New Monty: Ladies Night star Nadia Bartel. Picture: Nick Wilson/Seven

Just as she did then, the devoted mum remains commited to the privacy of her children and has made little comment, besides a telling statement to the Herald Sun which read: “Although I’m heartbroken, I don’t want to comment specifically on what’s been reported about Jim’s trip to the UK as I don’t think that is in anyone’s interests. My single focus now is to continue to protect, care and provide for my two beautiful boys as this is a personal matter.”

While she could be forgiven for wanting to avoid any media exposure whatsoever, Bartel spoke exclusively to News Corp about her deep and personal connection to the cause and the confidence boost she gained from baring almost all on Ladies Night.

Split … Nadia Bartel and estranged husband Jimmy in happier times. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

It was the death of her mother’s aunt, Maria Angela Curro back in 1971 which devastated her family and first inspired Bartel; before her own scare would “terrify” her into regular self-checks and mammograms.

“I was 20 or 21 and it was quite a big lump,” Bartel recalls, “I just thought it was nothing initially because I was so young but then I showed mum and she was a worried because of the family history.”

A biopsy “came back quite inconclusive and they just weren’t sure so I had to go into surgery and have the lump removed. I’ve still got a three centimetre scar under my nipple because it was so big,” she explains.

While that lump proved benign, the experience encouraged Bartel to work with breast cancer charity, Pink Hope and sign on for tonight’s Seven special as an example for other mums who might not prioritise their own health.

“I always want to instil in my boys that it’s good to work and it’s good to challenge yourself and I want them to be proud of me.”

She says her own self-esteem was boosted by the experience as she overcame her back problems to shake her booty.

Confidence boost … Bartel joined the strip show four months after giving birth to her second son. Picture: Nick Wilson/Seven

“I had physio and saw an osteo leading up to me doing the show, so I was amazing I could stand in heels, let alone dance without feeling any nerve pain. It was a good feeling.”

Confounding the usual body insecurities that can plague new mums, Bartel said she found a welcome sisterhood with the other celebrities, who have proved a great comfort and support since her split.

“We’ve got a big group WhatsApp message going … oh my god, it’s so funny. There’s some good stuff that goes on in that chat group, I can tell you,” she teases.

“I did find I had a close bond with Lisa but especially Simone and Ella [Hooper, of Killing Heidi fame]. I’ve seen Simone a few times since but Ella has been touring.

The strip itself was over before Bartel could be paralysed by nerves, but admits her burlesque days are over.

Devoted … Bartel shares custody of sons Aston and Henley. Picture: Swisse

“I’m inspired by it and I love to watch but oh my goodness, no … I’m not sexy enough. I’m so clumsy and so not sexy,” she protests, with a giggle.

“Some girls like Rachel [Finch] and Casey [Donovan], they’ve just got it but I’ve always been the sporty girl.”

Decked out in sequins and fishnets, with a smile to light up the stage, we think she’s got sexy back … and how.

Originally published as Nadia Bartel tells more about mer marriage breakdown as Seven’s Ladies Night is a ratings success