Strictly pro Neil Jones 'won't get a celebrity partner this series'
The show returns this SaturdayNeil Jones has reportedly missed out on having a celebrity partner for the new Strictly Come Dancing series, with the professional dancer said to be “gutted” by the decision.
The Sun claims Neil will not be paired with a celebrity when the BBC show returns this autumn.
It would mark the seventh time in his ten years on Strictly that Neil has been without a celebrity pairing.
However, despite missing out on a partner, the report suggests viewers will still see plenty of Neil on the programme.
Strictly star Neil Jones reportedly misses out on celebrity partner
The BBC has not confirmed the claim on record. The Sun reported that this year’s Strictly cast contains 15 celebrities.
A source explained that the show cannot give every professional dancer a celebrity partner: “Neil is a much-loved and valued member of the cast, but sadly not all the pros can get a partner.”
The source also suggested that Neil will continue to have a presence around the programme despite not competing with a celebrity.
They claimed: “Bosses love him because of his jokey personality, so expect to see him on set as much as possible.”
TV Guide has contacted the BBC for comment.
Neil Jones also reportedly missed group dances
The reported decision comes after another setback for Neil during preparations for the new series.
The Sun previously claimed that the Strictly professional was injured during rehearsals earlier this month.
The report also said Neil missed several pre-recorded group dances, although it did not suggest that his injury was behind the decision not to give him a celebrity partner.
The two developments were reported alongside one another, but no causal link was given. There were also no details about which routines Neil reportedly missed.
The report did not provide an update on whether Neil would be available for later recordings.
However, the source’s comments suggest that bosses still value his role within the Strictly cast.
Neil last partnered Toyah Willcox in 2024
Neil’s last celebrity partnership was with singer Toyah Willcox in 2024.
Their time in the competition was short-lived, with the pair lasting just two weeks before being eliminated.
Neil joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2016.
Read more: Strictly star Craig Revel Horwood hits back at new series backlash: ‘Get over it!’
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, September 19 from 7.25pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
