
Katya Jones: Relationship, Divorce, and Career Updates (2025)
Few Strictly Come Dancing professionals have kept the public guessing quite like Katya Jones. Since her split from fellow dancer Neil Jones, the 2017 champion’s personal life has become a steady source of headlines — some grounded in official statements, others drifting on social media whispers. This article sorts what’s confirmed from what’s still unclear, using verified reports and public records.
Full name: Ekaterina “Katya” Jones ·
Born: 1 May 1989, Saint Petersburg, Russia ·
Occupation: Professional dancer, Strictly Come Dancing pro ·
Strictly win: 2017 with partner Joe McFadden ·
Marriage: Married to Neil Jones 2013–2023 (divorced) ·
Known for: Strictly Come Dancing, 2017 champion
Quick snapshot
- Born Ekaterina Sokolova in Saint Petersburg, Russia (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia))
- Won Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 with Joe McFadden (Wikipedia)
- Married Neil Jones on 3 August 2013; separated in 2019, divorce finalized in 2023 (Wikipedia)
- Kissed Adam Peaty at the 2023 British Aquatics Awards (Cosmopolitan UK (lifestyle magazine))
- Whether she is currently dating Lewis Cope – only rumors, no confirmation
- Exact reason for the split with Neil Jones beyond “we grew apart” (only Neil’s statement)
- Status of any relationship with Adam Peaty after the 2023 kiss
- 2017: Strictly win with Joe McFadden
- 2018: Kiss with Seann Walsh sparks scandal
- 2023: Divorce finalized; kiss with Adam Peaty
- 2025: Rumored dating Lewis Cope; unfollowed Peaty on Instagram
- Katya continues touring with Strictly live shows in 2024–2025
- Unclear if she will return to Strictly as a pro in the 2025 series
- No official statement on her relationship status
Five key facts, one takeaway: Katya Jones’s public story is a blend of verified career milestones and unconfirmed personal rumours.
The table below summarises her core biographical details.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ekaterina Jones (née Sokolova) |
| Date of birth | |
| Partner history | Neil Jones (m. 2013–2023), rumoured Adam Peaty, Seann Walsh, Lewis Cope |
| Strictly win | 2017 (Joe McFadden) |
| Social media | Instagram: @katyajones, Facebook: @thekatyajones |
The implication: her public profile is built on clear career achievements, while her private life remains largely opaque.
Is Katya Jones in a relationship now?
Katya Jones partner 2025 rumours
- Since her divorce from Neil Jones, speculation has centred on her dance partners and co‑stars.
- In 2023, she was photographed kissing Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty at the British Aquatics Awards (Cosmopolitan UK). Peaty later married Holly Ramsay in 2025; reports suggest Katya was not invited (The Sun (UK tabloid)).
- Katya reportedly unfollowed Peaty on Instagram after the wedding, according to an ITV Lorraine segment (ITV Lorraine on Facebook (morning TV segment)).
Katya Jones and Lewis Cope
- In early 2025, rumours linked Katya to fellow dancer Lewis Cope, but neither has publicly commented.
- No credible source has confirmed a relationship; the speculation appears to be fan‑driven.
Why did Neil and Katya split up?
Timeline of their separation
- Katya and Neil Jones announced their separation on after six years of marriage (Wikipedia).
- The divorce was finalized in 2023 (Wikipedia).
- Neil later said in interviews that they “grew apart” – a statement reported by Digital Spy, though the exact article is no longer directly accessible.
The pattern: both parties have kept the exact reasons private. No third‑party evidence of infidelity or conflict has been made public beyond the well‑known 2018 kiss with Seann Walsh.
The split appears to have been an amicable drift rather than a dramatic fallout – consistent with their continued professional respect on the show.
What happened between Adam Peaty and Katya Jones?
The kiss at the 2023 British Aquatics Awards
- Photographs from October 2023 show Katya and Adam Peaty kissing at the awards ceremony (Cosmopolitan UK).
- Both were single at the time: Katya’s divorce was finalized earlier that year, and Peaty had split from his long‑term partner Eirianedd Munro.
- Peaty addressed the gossip on (during their Strictly run), calling it an “overblown” moment (Cosmopolitan UK).
Adam Peaty’s split from his ex‑girlfriend
- Munro told AOL (news aggregator) that her relationship with Peaty began to fall apart during his time on Strictly in 2021.
- She described the period as “lonely” and said the show was “the beginning of the end” – though she also said the relationship would likely have ended anyway (AOL).
- Munro did not blame Katya directly; the narrative of a “Strictly curse” has been a media trope rather than a confirmed factor.
The kiss did not lead to a public relationship; Peaty married Holly Ramsay in 2025 without Katya’s presence. The “curse” label fits a tabloid pattern, not a verified cause.
Timeline
The following timeline charts the key events in Katya Jones’s public life.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Born Ekaterina Sokolova in Saint Petersburg, Russia | Wikipedia | |
| 2010 | Began professional dancing career in UK | Wikipedia |
| Married Neil Jones | Wikipedia | |
| 2017 | Won Strictly Come Dancing with Joe McFadden | Wikipedia |
| 2018 | Kissed Seann Walsh, leading to public scandal | Wikipedia |
| Separated from Neil Jones | Wikipedia | |
| 2023 | Divorce finalized; kissed Adam Peaty at British Aquatics Awards | Wikipedia, Cosmopolitan UK |
| 2025 | Rumoured to be dating Lewis Cope | Not confirmed by any verified source |
The pattern: her career milestones are well-documented, while her personal timeline after 2023 relies heavily on unverified reports.
What’s confirmed vs. what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Katya Jones married Neil Jones in 2013 and divorced in 2023 (Wikipedia).
- She won Strictly Come Dancing in 2017 (Wikipedia).
- She kissed Adam Peaty at the 2023 British Aquatics Awards (Cosmopolitan UK).
- She was not invited to Adam Peaty’s wedding in 2025 (The Sun).
What’s unclear
- If she is currently in a relationship with Lewis Cope – only rumours.
- The exact reason for her split with Neil Jones beyond his public “we grew apart” statement.
- Details of what happened between Katya and Adam Peaty after the kiss.
- Whether the unfollowing of Adam Peaty on Instagram was related to the wedding snub or coincidental (ITV Lorraine on Facebook – low confidence).
Quotes from key figures
“The Strictly experience was the beginning of the end for us. It was a lonely time.”
— Eirianedd Munro, ex‑girlfriend of Adam Peaty, to AOL
Other statements attributed to Neil Jones and Plane Jane (Drag Race contestant) have circulated online but lack a verifiable source with a fixed URL. Readers should treat those claims as unconfirmed.
Summary
For anyone following Katya Jones’s story, the pattern is one of career momentum paired with personal ambiguity. The confirmed facts – a Strictly win, a divorce, a public kiss – coexist with a thicket of unverified rumours. For UK entertainment audiences, the implication is clear: treat social‑media speculation as just that, unless a named source backs it with a public statement. The next chapter – whether a Strictly return, a new relationship, or another media moment – remains unwritten for Katya Jones.
Frequently asked questions
Is Katya Jones in a relationship now?
As of 2025, Katya has not publicly confirmed a relationship. Rumours about Lewis Cope are unsubstantiated.
Why did Neil and Katya split up?
They announced their separation in August 2019 and the divorce was finalized in 2023. Neil Jones said they “grew apart,” but no further reason has been confirmed.
What happened between Adam Peaty and Katya Jones?
They were photographed kissing at the 2023 British Aquatics Awards. Adam Peaty later married someone else; Katya was not invited to the wedding.
Who has Neil Jones had a baby with?
Neil Jones and his partner Chyna Mills, a reality TV star, welcomed a daughter named Hanna in 2023.
What did Plane Jane say about Katya?
During RuPaul’s Drag Race, Plane Jane made a joke calling Katya “boring.” She later clarified it was a joke. No URL‑based source is available for the comment.
What is Katya Jones’s ethnicity?
She was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and is of Russian heritage.
Who is Katya Jones’s husband?
She was married to Neil Jones from 2013 to 2023. She is currently unmarried.
Has Katya Jones ever won Strictly Come Dancing?
Yes, she won the 15th series in 2017 with actor Joe McFadden.
Related reading
- Bruno Tonioli: Age, Net Worth, Relationship, and Career – Bruno Tonioli was a longtime judge on Strictly Come Dancing, the show where Katya Jones rose to fame.
- Eamonn Holmes: Health, Wealth, and Personal Life Updates – Eamonn Holmes, as a longtime UK morning TV presenter, frequently covered Strictly gossip and relationship news.