Page 13: Darren and Dea Jolly latest AFL couple to split
Deanne Jolly says she has been “blindsided and left devastated” after husband and former AFL player Darren Jolly “walked out on their marriage”. It comes amid claims the ex-Swan’s snap demo job of their heritage-listed property cost her a role on a popular TV show.
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Darren and Deanne Jolly are the latest high-profile former AFL couple to split.
The husband and wife became household names after winning more than $1 million in prize money on Channel 9’s reality renovation 2015 series of The Block.
Darren Jolly was already well-known from his days playing footy at Collingwood and Sydney.
Deanne Jolly confirmed the break up when called. But asked for privacy, saying her main concern was the welfare of her children.
“This is a very difficult time for me and my girls. We have been blindsided and left devastated by Darren’s action. But I'm focusing on my two daughters who are my number one priority. Please respect our privacy while we move on.”
Their fights were legendary and made for good popcorn TV viewing on The Block: Glasshouse in Prahran for the 2014 series and later Triple Threat in South Yarra which they won.
Pocket rocket mother-of-two Deanne Jolly was dubbed ‘Hurricane Dea’ for her passionate outbursts on the show.
Known for her great style, forthright opinions and THAT bogan comment about judge Shaynna Blaze, plenty behind-the-scenes say Dea was portrayed unfairly.
“Everyone thinks she wore the pants, but in fact he did,” a former Block staffer said.
Other friends close to the couple say Dea is devastated after Darren abruptly moved out of the family home around two months ago.
“People always want to cast Dea as the villain. But in this situation she is anything but.
Darren is the one who has walked out on his family and left them struggling in more ways than one. Dea is just trying to keep it together for her two girls,” a friend said.
Dea Jolly, 45, was earmarked for a regular TV role after her noteworthy stint on The Block.
Page 13 was told she secured a guest spot on Channel 10’s The Living Room.
But after Darren Jolly’s snap decision to demolish their heritage-listed East Kew investment property without Dea's knowledge, resulting in court costs and hitting headlines, the job offer was rescinded with executives deeming her now too “controversial” because of Darren’s actions.
Darren Jolly, 38, recently started his own Instagram page, seemingly cutting all ties from the former couple’s joint account from The Block, leaving their 67 thousand-odd followers confused as to what has been going on.
Darren Jolly did not return calls for comment.
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