Strictly star Katya Jones' volatile love life - curse, divorce and husband hunt

17 October 2023 , 17:15

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Strictly star Katya Jones' volatile love life - curse, divorce and husband hunt

Dancing is perhaps one of the most romantic ways to get the blood pumping, and therefore it's perhaps unsurprising that a number of Strictly Come Dancing stars have led rollercoaster love lives. This includes Katya Jones, who has weathered many ups and downs when it comes to affairs of the heart.

Since 2016, the professional dancer and choreographer has wowed judges and viewers alike with her sparkling footwork. Katya's creative routines have of course included her now iconic Gangnam Style salsa with politician Ed Balls way back in series 14, as well as a memorable Matrix-themed Paso Doble with comedian Seann Walsh back in 2018. With season 21 well underway, Katya's choreography continues to fascinate - as does her complicated love life.

Katya and Seann were spotted kissing outside a pub (PA)

Victim of the Strictly 'curse'

Much has been written in recent years about the so-called Strictly 'curse' - whereby signing up to Strictly Come Dancing could well spell doom for your current relationship. Over the years, avid viewers have spotted this supposed trend with contestants and professional dancers alike, and it would appear that Katya isn't immune.

In 2018, Katya and Seann Walsh - who she was partnered with during that season - were spotted sharing a kiss, despite already being in relationships with other people. Seann, who was in a relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries at that time, ended up fleeing to America in the wake of the scandal, and he has since spoken up about his regret.

In his 2022 stand-up show Seann Walsh: Kiss | Full Comedy Special, Seann recalled: "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!

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"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." He added: "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."

Reflecting on this same period during an interview on The Lovejoy Hour podcast, Katya, who was married to fellow Strictly star Neil Jones at the time of the kiss, declared that the moment "doesn't define her", adding that she has "grown so much" in the years since. Katya, now 34, stated: "Whatever is written or whatever people think, it doesn't matter. I'm so disconnected from it."

Katya and Neil called in quits in 2019 (PA)

Katya is now on the hunt for a new husband (PA)

Divorce from co-star

In 2019, just one year after the kiss scandal, Katya and Neil announced they were getting a divorce after six years of marriage. Although many assumed the incident between Katya and Seann prompted the split, Neil has previously stated that this wasn't the case. During an interview with The Sun in 2020, Neil said: "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.

"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."

Neil, 41, has since found love again with former Love Island star Chyna Mills. The pair are engaged to be married and have just welcomed their first child, a little girl named Havana Jones. Speaking exclusively with Hello! about their happy new arrival, Neil said: "It would be amazing if she wants to be a dancer, but she can be whatever she wants to be."

Husband hunting

Earlier this year, Katya admitted she was planning a "husband hunting holiday" with a pal in a bid to find "the one", admitting that she didn't much care for dating apps. Katya told The Sun: "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."

While speaking with the Daily Express back in August, Katya was quizzed as to how her hunt for a husband was going. In response, she exclaimed: "It's going! It's still going! It's still on." Her close friend, the Olympian snowboarder Aimee Fuller, added: "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."

Julia Banim