Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones 'questioned returning to show' for 2026 after last year's Lewis Cope elimination
Katya was tearful last year after she and Lewis Cope became eliminatedKatya Jones has revealed she almost quit Strictly Come Dancing after last year’s exit left her heartbroken.
In an interview with MailOnline, she explained how new partner John Nellis has helped restore her enthusiasm.
Katya’s doubts followed her tearful appearance on It Takes Two last December, where she reflected on leaving the competition with Lewis Cope.
Katya Jones questioned whether to return to Strictly Come Dancing
Katya, 37, joined the BBC dance show in 2016. Now in her 11th year, she says returning isn’t a decision she takes for granted.
Each year, she considers whether she feels ready for another demanding series. Knowing how “consuming” the competition becomes makes that annual decision important to her.
She explained that genuine passion matters because of the experience she gives her celebrity partners. She also feels fans deserve that commitment.
But the previous series had left her struggling.
She told the MailOnline: “So every year I do question myself, like really think, ‘Are you ready for this really intense, really all consuming thing again and again and again and again?’ Every time I ask myself, and if the answer is still yes, I’ll be here doing it. And I must say last year I was very heartbroken. So there was a lot of doubt, like, ‘Can I face it again?'”
That disappointment prompted doubts about whether she could face the competition again, despite her years on the programme.
Lewis Cope’s Strictly exit left Katya Jones emotional
In 2025, Katya and actor Lewis suffered a quarter-final elimination. They faced Amber Davies and professional partner Nikita Kuzmin in the dance-off, missing out on the semi-final.
Katya explained that high expectations had made their departure difficult to accept. Those expectations had also come from outside the partnership, with the prospect of going much further feeling within reach.
“And then to have had it cut short was a little bit tough,” she said.
During their emotional It Takes Two appearance, Katya questioned whether different decisions could have helped Lewis.
However, she praised him for delivering everything she had asked of him throughout their partnership. She also described the pressure to produce almost-perfect, show-stopping routines every Saturday.
John Nellis helps renew Katya Jones’ Strictly passion
This year, Katya is dancing with football YouTuber John Nellis.
Their early training sessions, particularly their first week together, reminded her of Strictly’s impact beyond the ballroom.
She described giving viewers something enjoyable to anticipate during winter. For her, the partnership’s purpose extends beyond either dancer’s individual ambitions.
Katya and John topped the leaderboard after the first live show. Their Foxtrot earned 31 points out of 40.
Movie Week brought a lower score of 23 for their Titanic-inspired Couple’s Choice routine. The pair are now preparing for week three this Saturday.
Despite her earlier doubts, Katya has a clear condition for continuing. She said she still loves Strictly “as much now as when I started”.
She concluded that the moment “I don’t love it is the moment I walk away”.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday October 10 from 6.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
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