Strictly Come Dancing star Katya Jones has certainly seen her share of highs and lows throughout her time on the show, yet she’s determined not to be overshadowed by these moments.
The accomplished 35-year-old pro dancer and choreographer has wowed the judges and public with her dance talent since storming onto the BBC show in 2016. Her previous dance partners include ex-politician Ed Balls and comic Seann Walsh, and currently, for the much-anticipated 2024 series, she’s taking to the floor with Welsh opera star Wynne Evans.
However, Katya and Wynne are rumoured to be at risk of elimination this weekend after a couple of ‘pranks’ during the last live show weren’t well-received. Viral videos from that episode circulated online, capturing the moment Katya seemingly snubbed Wynne’s ‘high five’ attempt and appeared to guide his hand away from her waist.
The duo took to social media to apologise, expressing they were “heartbroken” over the backlash they faced.
Not just known for her moves on the dancefloor, Katya’s personal life has also been under the spotlight, marked by an infamous kiss with a celebrity partner and her subsequent split from a fellow professional dancer, reports Birmingham Live.
Katya’s experience prompts reminders of the so-called Strictly ‘curse’, where participating in the series is thought to spell trouble for one’s romantic life. This pattern has often been noted by avid watchers of the show, with contestants and dancing pros alike falling victim to relationship woes and as reported by the Mirror, it appears that Katya’s personal life has followed suit.
In 2018, Katya, who was part of a dance duo with Seann Walsh during that year’s Strictly, found herself in hot water when they were spotted in an apparent embrace, despite her marriage to fellow Strictly professional Neil Jones. At the time, Seann was dating actress Rebecca Humphries and later escaped to America amid the fallout, where he has since acknowledged his remorse.
Seann recounted a significant episode in his 2022 comedy routine: “I left the wardrobe department and before I could order my first beer, my agent came over to and asked if he could have a word with me outside. I thought, ‘He is going to tell me I have got Michael McIntyre’s Big Show! I had better act surprised!”
However, what unfolded was not as he expected: “Turns out, I didn’t have to act surprised. We went into the car park, my agent looked over his glasses and said, ‘About 20 minutes ago, they posted a photo of you kissing Katya outside a pub’. It was at that exact point that my life would turn upside down – the dream turned into a nightmare.”
Opening up about the incident, he expressed: “I was in a relationship, my dance partner Katya was married. After training, we went for a drink, one thing led to another and we were photographed kissing outside a pub. Awful, I know. It’s awful – I’m sorry. I’m still sorry now.”
When Katya joined The Lovejoy Hour podcast, she opened up about the past events, asserting that the incident “doesn’t define her” and elaborating on her personal growth. She passionately remarked: “Whatever is written or whatever people think, it doesn’t matter. I’m so disconnected from it.”
In 2019, after six years of marriage, Katya and Neil concluded that it was time to part ways. Despite speculation, Neil confirmed in a chat with The Sun in 2020 that his split from Katya wasn’t because of her episode with Seann.
He explained: “We found that we’d grown apart like people do, so we were like, ‘OK, let’s go our separate ways’. We are lucky that we don’t have kids.”
Neil also shared how he views their connection following their divorce: “It had nothing to do with what happened [with Seann]. We were moving in different directions but we are friends again now. Katya is a great girl and I’ve got nothing bad to say about her.”
Now at 41, Neil is with Chyna Mills, a former Love Island contestant. They’re recently engaged and proud parents to their daughter, Havana Jones. Sharing his thoughts on Havanas future in an interview with Hello! Neil commented: “It would be amazing if she wants to be a dancer, but she can be whatever she wants to be.”
Earlier in the year, Katya spoke of her quest for romance, eschewing the usual dating apps. Sharing with The Sun, she said: “We will be definitely going on a husband-hunting trip very soon. I mean we’re constantly husband-hunting. Modern dating is very complicated, I don’t always understand men’s thinking, but I’d like to think I’m a good judge of character.”
Speaking with the Daily Express more recently, when asked about her ongoing search for a soulmate, she excitedly replied, “It’s going! It’s still going! It’s still on.”
Her friend, Aimee Fuller, the Olympian snowboarder, chimed in: “The hunt is on. There are lots of good events in the next few weeks so we will be out, living. That’s what it’s all about. Good conversation and meeting people is everything.”
Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One on Saturdays and Sundays and on BBC iPlayer