Strictly’s Katya Jones has a right to be upset – she deserves better

Katya Jones said her heart was broken after this weekend’s Strictly Come Dancing – and mine was too. 

On Sunday night, two of the strongest couples – Katya with Lewis Cope, and Amber Davies with Nikita Kuzmin – were forced to fight for their place in the semi-finals.

Fans couldn’t believe what they were witnessing, and nor could I.

As gutting as the result was, the two pairs landed in the dance-off fair and square after the judges’ scores were combined with the public vote, despite the fact that Amber and Nikita scored a perfect 40 for their Guys and Dolls-inspired Charleston.

But watching Katya’s hopes for the Glitterball Trophy shatter yet again felt cruel.

The professional dancer, 36, has been a part of Strictly for almost a decade. She’s the third-longest serving pro currently in the line-up behind Karen Hauer, who’s been a part of  14 seasons, and Aljaž Škorjanec, who’s done a total of 11. 

Anyone who’s a fan of the show can attest that Katya is undoubtedly one of the most talented pro dancers, boasting stellar choreography and being hailed as an excellent teacher.

And yet, she’s only been in the final once –  when she won with Joe McFadden all the way back in 2017. 

I had to do a double-take when I realised that aside from winning, her best result on Strictly has been fifth place, with Nigel Harman in 2023 and then again with Lewis this year.

In the past, Katya has often had the odds stacked against her in the competition.

As wonderful a time as she’s had with her celebrity partners, on several occasions she’s been selected to partner up with stars regarded as underdogs from the start.

In her first year, Katya was paired with Ed Balls, whose flamboyant salsa to Gangnam Style – which has been viewed almost two million times on YouTube – is one of the most unforgettable moments on the programme, for good and bad reasons.

At the time, judge Bruno Tonioli called it the ‘best worst dance I’ve ever seen’.

Three years ago, Katya was tasked with training up former football star Tony Adams. 

Following their samba to Hot Chocolate’s You Sexy Thing, one fan called SiasCreations commented online: ‘Katya is the most creative choreographer the show has and she always brings something unexpected to the table. She knows how to play to her partners’ strengths.’ 

It seems to me that Katya is often chosen by the Strictly producers to partner up with the so-called ‘weaker’ celebrities because they know that she can pull exciting choreography out of the bag, while also helping them improve their dancing skills.

Then this year, following Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn’s withdrawal from Strictly due to health reasons, former Emmerdale star Lewis took his place and became Katya’s partner.

Putting aside the predictable complaints from some Strictly fans about Lewis’s dance background – having appeared in Billy Elliot on stage as a child and competed on the Sky show Got to Dance – it seemed as though they had a real chance of going all the way.

A possible victory for Katya felt like a long time coming, and eight years after her last win, she had more than deserved it. But it wasn’t meant to be.

She and Lewis achieved two perfect 40s, including one for their couple’s choice to Radiohead’s Creep, a routine that’s been widely described as ‘one of the best dances ever on Strictly’. 

Strictly has been wrought with controversy in recent years, and Katya has definitely been through the wringer. 

In 2018, she was photographed kissing her celebrity partner, comedian and actor Seann Walsh. The backlash their kiss caused came as no surprise, considering Katya was married to fellow Strictly pro Neil Jones at the time, and Seann was in a relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries. 

They apologised together on the BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two, and three weeks later they were eliminated from the competition. 

Nonetheless, she stayed on, and two years later made history with Nicola Adams as the first same-sex couple to compete. Their partnership was magnificent, and marked a defining moment for representation on the show. 

But they had to leave the series brutally early after Katya tested positive for Covid.  

Last year, Katya was partnered with opera singer and radio presenter Wynne Evans, who was criticised after being filmed with his hand around Katya’s waist during the Saturday night programme. 

Wynne issued an apology while insisting that it had been a joke, while Katya echoed. 

They reunited on the Strictly live tour – but Wynne was later axed following crude remarks that he made regarding Janette Manrara.

Strictly is one of the biggest shows on TV, so it’s no surprise that the drama which goes on behind the camera is going to grip viewers just as much as the dances performed in the ballroom.

But what’s been so wonderful about Katya’s partnership with Lewis is how fantastic they are on the dancefloor together. 

This was her strongest chance at winning the Glitterball Trophy in almost a decade. I don’t blame Katya for writing on Instagram: ‘My heart is broken and it will take some time to heal.’

Speaking on It Takes Two on Monday, Katya sat next to Lewis as she said tearfully: ‘A lot of my life I was told, “Less Katya, less, stop.” But finally, I just needed the right dance partner to match that. It’s tough, but also I’m really, really proud. We grafted.’

I’m sad for them that they didn’t at least make it to the final, but the upset their elimination has sparked among fans just goes to show how valued and deserving they were.

Katya has said she is both proud, and heartbroken. She’s not the only one. 

Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 6.35pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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