Neil and Katya Jones: Why is the Strictly Come Dancing couple splitting up?

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers Neil and Katya Jones are announcing they have broken up after more than 10 years as an item. Katya and Neil will be appearing and working on the BBC show when it returns next month. The couple posted a joint statement on their respective Instagram accounts announcing their decision to go their separate ways.

The statement read: “Hi everyone, as our fans and loyal supporters you are really important to us and so we wanted to let you know some news.

“After 11 years, we have made the mutual decision to separate.

“We will always love each other, just in a different way as friends.

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“This will never change what a great team we make and we are really proud of everything we have achieved together.”

The statement went on to say: “Our shared love of dance means we will keep working and dancing together as well as exploring individual projects.

“No matter what we do we will always support and respect each other.

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“We wish one another every happiness and we will remain the best of friends. We are really looking forward to getting back to the ballroom and can’t wait to keep on dancing.”

They signed off: “Lots of love from us both xx.”

Neil and Katya tied the knot back in 2013 after first getting together in 2008.

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Their decision to separate comes a year after photos surfaced of Katya kissing her Strictly Come Dancing celebrity partner and comedian Seann Walsh last year.

However, there’s nothing to suggest that this had anything to do with their decision.

After the image turned up, both Katya and Seann released separate statements on social media to apologise.

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Katya posted to Twitter: “I’m so sorry about any offence or hurt I may have caused with my actions. I wasn’t thinking and it was a one-off mistake after some drinks.

“I love my husband and we are very happy together, this is not a reflection of our relationship.”

While Seann posted: “In light of the story in today’s newspaper I would like to offer my sincere apologies for my actions.

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“This is no excuse but it was a one-off drunken mistake which I am truly sorry for.”

Neil also spoke about the pictures earlier this year in March, telling ITV’s Lorraine: “It was a shock.

“For me, it was a major shock and I appreciated it of course that Katya told me. I found out from Katya before I saw it in the news.”

He continued: “Strictly were fantastic with me, with us all. They supported us all and were helping us.

“It was that shock factor. Straightaway I was more worried for Katya. Because I was like… I could kind of see what was going to happen… as long as she’s going to be okay.”

Katya, who was also being interviewed on the show, added: “There were lots of different emotions and we’ve gone through that. Now that we moved on, we forgot how we felt in that moment.”

Strictly Come Dancing 2019 will be launching on BBC One this September

source: express.co.uk