Neil Jones and Katya Jones confirmed they had gone their separate ways in August and they have been performing alongside each other on Strictly Come Dancing 2019. The former couple had been together for 11 years and celebrated their sixth anniversary of their nuptials in 2019, before officially parting ways. The 37-year-old has now opened up about his relationship with the Russian beauty, 30, just weeks after she was pictured in her wedding ring. He has said he is focusing on dancing and on the programme, as he and Alex Scott also addressed their chemistry on the BBC show.
Neil started: “I won’t be doing any dating apps. I’ve never done a dating app – there weren’t any when I was last single.
“I’m just going to stick to dancing for the time being.”
Their separation came after Katya was pictured kissing her former Strictly partner, comedian Seann Walsh, last October, with the dancers saying that it was not the cause of their split.
On her still wearing her wedding, he continued: “We’re not together any more. I never used to wear my wedding ring when we were dancing, that was just something for me because I don’t really like jewellery.
“But Katya, you know, she just likes her jewellery, so if she’s wearing it, she’s wearing it.”
Neil went on: “We’re really good friends and we’re in a really good place right now.”
It was on October 11 that Katya was spotted wearing her band again as she prepared for the fourth live show.
The star, who is dancing with Mike Bushell in this year’s series, was pictured smiling for cameras in the snap as she put her jewellery on display.
She dressed for the season in a black and grey leopard print jacket with a fur-trimmed hood.
Meanwhile, in the joint interview with Alex, 35, the pair spoke of their relationship, denying a romance between them.
The pair’s chemistry on the dancefloor has sparked some speculation among fans, but the former footballer said: “It’s great that everyone can see how well me and Neil get on, and that we do have this great partnership and it’s not just for TV.
“But we’re not thinking anything about that. We’re together all the time training, and we’re so immersed in Strictly and doing everything for the show, so that stuff hasn’t even entered our thoughts.”
Neil added that they are “dancing, dancing, dancing, (having) a little bit of sleep, dancing, dancing, dancing…”
They performed a commercial/street routine to the Ghostbusters theme for the BBC One’s special Halloween-themed week last night.
According to bookmakers Coral, BBC Breakfast’s Mike and Katya are the favourites to get the boot tonight, with odds of 4-6. Alex and Neil have odds of 16-1.
Strictly Come Dancing: The Results is on tonight at 7.15pm on BBC One.