Comedian Julia Morris reveals reason behind divorce from husband Dan Thomas

The comedian and reality TV host has opened up about her “super sad” divorce from husband Dan Thomas and the example she wanted to set for her daughters.

Julia Morris.

Julia Morris has opened up about the reasons for her divorce, revealing she and ex-husband Dan Thomas were growing apart.

The TV host and comedian, 54, said the separation had been amicable but she wanted to set an example for their two daughters not to settle.

“It’s been super sad,’’ she tells the Australian Women’s Weekly out on Thursday.

“But there’s a lot of layers happening at the same time.

“I’m famous for saying I feel like every year we’re going to break up.

“But it definitely gets to that same point, which is that we are just not necessarily growing in the same direction. And then once you’ve got that in your headspace, the other person starts to become quite a pest.

Julia Morris opens up about her life to The Australian Women’s Weekly. Picture: Peter Brew Bevan

“I think that’s where patience starts to wear down to, ‘I’m not living like this. How is this an example for my girls that this is an okay life to lead? No thanks.’”

Morris says the couple weren’t bickering or fighting, just engaging in “smart-arsery”.

Working with her psychologist – as well as getting to the other side of menopause – were factors in the situation. She has detailed how the pair navigated a gentle divorce.

The I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! co-host said she had to think about how she wanted her life to look.

Since seeking therapy she has learned much about herself.

“Like my odd people pleasing. And my compliance,’’ she said.

“And my tendency to go way over the top to do something nice for people which would then take me 17 days to do. Chronic people pleasing. And not speaking my truth, which seems unusual for someone as outspoken as I am. But my need to be liked was deeper than my need to get it right.”

Dan Thomas and Julia Morris at the 2009 Time Out Comedy Festival Awards at The Argyle, The Rocks in Sydney.

Since the divorce Morris has realised an array of things that had previously gone relatively unnoticed.

“Put it this way, I didn’t know who we banked with when we broke up,” she said.

“You hear about women and you’re like, ‘What do you mean they don’t know anything about the accounts? But if you feel like it’s being taken care of, it’s ‘you do your job and I’ll do my job’. Everyone’s got a different job.

“I don’t have much business with the internet. Now I’ve got to download permission slips from school. And I’ve never worked in an office – I’ve taught myself all that stuff. It’s like an Ikea flatpack – that’s what my life has been since. I have no clue how to put it together but I’m just going to try and sit quietly until it shows itself to me. The girls are now calling me boss lady.”