Katya Jones

Katya Jones (born Ekaterina Andreevna Sokolova; Russian: Екатерина Андреевна Соколова; 12 May 1989)^[1] is a Russian dancer and choreographer.^[2] She is best known for being a professional dancer in the competition show Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2017 with her dance partner Joe McFadden. In the 2020 series, Jones was paired with the retired professional and Olympic champion boxer Nicola Adams, the first same-sex couple to compete in the UK competition's format.

Between August 2013 and August 2019 she was married to Neil Jones, a dancer and fellow cast member of Strictly Come Dancing.

She was born in Sestroretsk,^{[citation needed]} near Leningrad, Soviet Union, and started dancing at the age of six, training in gymnastics as well as Ballroom and Latin-American dancing.^[3] Her father is a senior oil company executive and her Korean mother is a graduate in engineering.^[4]

In 2016, Jones became a professional in the BBC ballroom dancing show Strictly Come Dancing for its 14th series.^[5] Jones was partnered with the former Shadow chancellor, Ed Balls. For the 15th series, Jones partnered the Holby City actor, Joe McFadden, where they were the series winners.^[6] For the 16th series, Jones partnered the comedian Seann Walsh and for the 17th series, she was partnered with the BBC sports presenter, Mike Bushell.

In the 18th series, Jones was part of the show's first same-sex couple, with the professional boxer Nicola Adams.^[2] They withdrew from the competition on 12 November, after Jones tested positive for COVID-19. She was partnered with the Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty for the 19th series. For series 20 she was partnered with former England footballer and manager Tony Adams. They withdrew during the week 8 results show due to Tony sustaining a hamstring injury during his original performance.

She partnered the politician Ed Balls for the 14th series of Strictly Come Dancing.

• Red number indicates Ed and Katya were at the bottom of the leaderboard.

She partnered the Scottish actor Joe McFadden for the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing.

• Green number indicates Joe and Katya were at the top of the leaderboard.

She partnered the comedian and actor Seann Walsh for the 16th series of Strictly Come Dancing.

• Red number indicates Seann and Katya were at the bottom of the leaderboard.

^A Alfonso Ribeiro filled in for Tonioli

She partnered the television presenter Mike Bushell for the 17th series of Strictly Come Dancing.

• Red number indicates Mike and Katya were at the bottom of the leaderboard.

^A Alfonso Ribeiro filled in for Tonioli

She partnered the boxer Nicola Adams for the 18th series of Strictly Come Dancing. They had to leave the competition after week 3 when Jones tested positive for COVID-19.

From September 2021, she partnered the Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty for the 19th series of Strictly Come Dancing. They reached week 7, coming ninth.^[7]

From September 2022, she partnered former England men's association football captain Tony Adams for the 20th series of Strictly Come Dancing. On week 8, they were announced in the bottom two against Tyler West (who was partnered with Dianne Buswell). However, they did not compete in the dance-off due to Adams sustaining a hamstring injury, subsequently leading him to withdraw from the competition.

• Red number indicates Tony and Katya were at the bottom of the leaderboard.

From September 2023, she was partnered by stage and screen actor Nigel Harman for the 21st series of Strictly Come Dancing. On week 11, just hours before the live show, Harman had to withdraw from the competition after sustaining a rib injury during rehearsals.^[8]

• Green number indicates Nigel and Katya were at the top of the leaderboard.

From September 2024, she was partnered by opera singer and BBC Radio Wales presenter Wynne Evans on the 22nd series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Jones took part in the national Strictly Come Dancing – The Live Tour in 2024.^[9]

In 2024, it was announced she would be appearing at Donahey's Dancing with The Stars Weekends in 2025.^[10]

She appeared as a contestant in Celebrity Masterchef in 2022.^[11]

In April 2023, she appeared in series five of Celebrity Hunted, partnered with Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller, and was eliminated in the fifth episode.^[12]

Jones starred in the dance show Somnium: A Dancer's Dream,^[13] directed and choreographed by Neil Jones. The show was performed from 20 to 22 June 2019 at Sadler's Wells Theatre. She has also acted in various pantomimes.^[14]

Jones married her boyfriend of five years, Neil Jones, a dancer and fellow cast member of Strictly Come Dancing, on 3 August 2013.^[15] In October 2018, a video and photographs of Jones kissing her celebrity Strictly partner, Seann Walsh, were published.^[16] On 18 August 2019, Jones and her husband announced that they had separated.^[17]

• Katya Jones at IMDb