Strictly’s Katya Jones on what it was REALLY like to work with Wynne Evans and why nobody is sliding into her DMs
KATYA Jones is exasperated.
The 35-year-old Strictly Come Dancing professional is setting the record straight on her celebrity partner Wynne Evans, who was axed from this year’s Strictly tour after a backlash over an inappropriate joke.
“I can only obviously speak from my personal experience, but I thought Wynne was incredible.
“We spent a huge amount of time together and we had a brilliant partnership. We got on like a house on fire.
“Working with a professional musician was a different experience for me, it was sensational. It was like a creative union.
“He added his musicality, charisma and a passion for music.
“It was really cool and we got on so well, honestly.
“We just laughed and joked all the time.”
Fans of the BBC show suspected there were issues between the Welsh opera singer, 53, and the Russian dancer after Katya was caught on camera subtly moving Wynne’s hand away from her waist.
She was also seen blanking him when he tried to give her a high five.
She explains: “We had the best time, but to the point where our jokes sometimes backfired on us, and that was just one of those moments.
“Obviously, now I can totally see how it looked. But it was genuinely an inside joke between us and it was misinterpreted.
“I look back on the series and I am so proud of all the numbers we did.
“I watched them the other day and I just thought: ‘Wow!’”
At the time, Katya and Wynne put out a statement saying they were just “messing around” and “it was a silly joke”, which did little to dampen the furore.
Katya admits it was frustrating that people were outraged on her behalf, when she herself wasn’t upset or offended.
She explains: “I would have liked for people to have trusted my word, so I don’t understand why they didn’t.
“On one hand people say: ‘We must believe women and what they say,’ but then, when you actually say something, they don’t accept it.
“We carried on with so much flair and the partnership continued – you could see our beautiful friendship that we had then and now. That just speaks for itself.”
As for the sexualised remarks he made about professional dancer Janette Manrara at the launch of the Strictly tour in January this year, Wynne has dismissed them as an “in joke” but also apologised for his “inappropriate and unacceptable” comments, and hired lawyers to clear his name.
What does Katya make of it all? “Wynne has never made me feel uncomfortable in any way.
“We’ve had the most incredible time together, which no one can take away from us. I look back fondly on it.
“I carried on with the tour without him, but it was a shame because we were having a fabulous time and the crowd loved him.”
Wynne – who has been open in the past about struggling with his mental health – lost his lucrative contract with GoCompare, and took time off from his BBC radio show in the wake of the scandal, but Katya has stood by him.
“Obviously, he’s going through a hard time right now, so as a friend, I check in and make sure he’s OK,” she says.
“I think that’s the right thing to do.”
Katya is now looking forward to returning for her 10th series of Strictly in the autumn.
She won the show in 2017 partnering actor Joe McFadden, and previously danced with celebs including former MP Ed Balls, Olympian Adam Peaty and ex-footballer Tony Adams, as well as being half of the show’s first same-sex couple with boxer Nicola Adams.
“Looking back now, I had no idea I’d be on the show for so long, nor how much I was going to love it.
“It has changed my life. I remember the first year, Janette looking after me.
‘I’VE GROWN UP’
“She said I had to make sure to eat and sleep.
“We had never met before, but we formed such a tight bond and we are best friends now.
“I’ve always said: ‘The day I don’t love it is the day I stop.’
“Every year, I think: ‘How is it possible to love your job so much?’
“But I do and it just gets bigger and bigger, and better and better.”
And it’s not just Strictly that has improved over the years – nine years on the show has done wonders for Katya, too.
“I’ve absolutely changed in that time,” she agrees.
“Last year at rehearsals, people were saying: ‘You are a bit quiet now.’
“I used to be this loud, flamboyant and maybe even a bit annoying, bossy girl.
“So now people are saying: ‘Are you OK?’ But I’ve just grown up.
“I’m not a 20-something any more. I’m a woman in my 30s.
“And so much in my life has changed in that time.”
Katya and fellow Strictly pro Neil Jones announced their separation in 2019 after 11 years together.
He has since had a daughter with his new partner, former Love Islander Chyna Mills.
“It’s changed so much for the whole Strictly family,” she continues.
“Look how many kids there are now. It’s crazy.
“My first year, I was partnered with Ed Balls.
“I was this young dancer who had just come straight out of my competitive career, so I was used to giving it absolutely everything. I thought Strictly was the biggest competition in the world.
“Ed likes to remind me that I kept telling him: ‘We are going to win,’ and he just kept looking at me like: ‘No, we are not!’”
The 58-year-old former MP comes up numerous times during the conversation and Katya lights up at the mention of his name – she is even a regular at his and wife Yvette Cooper’s north London home.
“Of course we keep in touch,” she says. “He is like my father figure – he gives me so much good advice.
“When the show is on, he texts me every Saturday to give me his little opinions.
“We often catch up over a roast dinner – he is a great cook.
‘FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT’
“He’s looked after my two dogs, Crumble and Chorizo, before.
“He was my first partner, so we’ve formed a special bond.
“My family are all in Russia, so for them it’s a relief knowing I’ve got someone like him looking out for me.
“He always has my back. If I need any advice, he’s always there. It’s lovely.”
Katya, who moved to the UK when she was 19, wasn’t even aware who the former Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer was before they were paired up.
“He came on the show after he lost his seat in the Morley and Outwood constituency in West Yorkshire – it was so brave, because obviously he didn’t get voted in by the people, and then he goes on a TV show where there is a public vote,” she says.
“Then, a year later, we were on the Strictly tour in Leeds Arena, where he’d lost his seat, and the public voted for him to win.
“It was a total full-circle moment.
“He lifted the Glitterball after being crowned as the people’s champion.
“That is what Strictly is about – celebrities might be lost or lacking courage and then they go through life-changing experiences after being on the show.
“It’s beautiful we get to do that.”
Katya credits her mother Tatiana, now 62, for introducing her to dancing.
“I did everything as a child,” she says. “I painted, I played piano, which I still do.
“I sang, albeit terribly, and I did dancing and gymnastics. I was a really shy child.
“My mum dances now – she took it up in her 50s.
“I think she was inspired by me, but she always loved dancing and that’s why she was so supportive of my career.
“She helped raise me and my brother, and then she said: ‘Now it’s my time. I’ve always wanted to do this.’
“She is competing on an international level now and has been to the World Championships.
“My dream is for us to dance together at Strictly.”
While Katya has been smashing her career, things have been much quieter in her personal life, and she admits she hasn’t had a date in five years.
I’ve been happy on my own 100%, but I’m really ready to meet someone now
Katya Jones
“Men never approach me,” she sighs. “They never slide into my DMs.
“[Since being single] I’ve gone through this self-development, and I’m really proud of the person I am today.
“I really value myself now. I work hard and I’ve created this life for myself, so there is a standard.
“I know my values and my morals and I see a lot of female friends who have a similar thing.
“I’ve been happy on my own 100%, but I’m really ready to meet someone now.
“I have so much love to give and I would love to share it – not just with the dogs!
“I’ve got a really beautiful circle of friends too, but I want to be loved, there’s no secret about it.
“I’m 35 and I’ve been ready for a while, but it’s proven to be difficult in this modern world.
“I think there is an element that [men] are intimidated by me.
“Unfortunately, being in the public eye has hurdles, too, so I can’t really go on normal dating apps.
“Of course I’ve tried Raya, but I think I need a friend of a friend. I’m open to it.”
Having divorced Neil in 2023 (the pair share custody of their dog Chorizo), would she be up for tying the knot again?
“I don’t know, I’m not ruling it out. It’s got to be the right person,” she says.
“I’m not at the stage of wanting babies yet.
“I wouldn’t do it alone, but I’m very much hopeful that I will find a partner to have babies with.”
Children and weddings aside, Katya is looking to the future.
The career of a dancer is a short one, and she’s watched pals like Janette, as well as Oti Mabuse and Anton Du Beke, move on to the next stage of their professional lives.
There are plans to launch a sustainable clothing range, but she also has an eye on landing a spot on the Strictly judging panel.
“I am looking to the next 10 years, as I don’t know how long I can continue the job in terms of the physicality of a professional dancer.
“What’s next for me? Well, I’m going to be a guest judge on Dancing With The Stars in Belgium and I am really looking forward to it.
“I’ve got the perfect combination of 10 years working in TV and being a professional choreographer, as well as being a three-time world dance champion. I’ve got the credentials.
“I feel like it’s where I belong – in the judging chair. I’ll be able to bring the knowledge of the technicalities while also the understanding of being a professional.
“It will be my first judging job, but I’m hoping it’s not my last.”