Strictly star Katya Jones' kiss with co-star before her divorce that she 'refuses to be defined' by

Katya Jones is paired up with Wynne Evans for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 and this week they've been in hot water - she's had some past controversies surrounding her love life too

Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones has certainly ridden a rollercoaster of highs and lows throughout her time on the show, yet she remains undeterred by past controversies.

The 35-year-old professional dancer and choreographer has been wowing judges and audiences with her dance skills since she joined the BBC roster in 2016. Her previous dance partners include politician Ed Balls and comedian Seann Walsh, and for the 2024 series, she's teamed up with Welsh opera star Wynne Evans.

However, they're currently among the favourites for elimination this weekend after a couple of misfired 'pranks' during the last live show landed them in trouble. Viral clips from the broadcast showed Katya turning away from Wynne as he attempted a 'high five' and adjusting his hand when it strayed over her waist.

The duo took to social media to apologise for their behaviour, expressing that they were "heartbroken" over the response.

Away from the glitter of the dancefloor, Katya's personal life has also been subject to intense scrutiny, marked by a notorious kiss with a contestant and a subsequent divorce from another dancer, reports Birmingham Live.

The infamous Strictly 'curse' is often mentioned, suggesting that participation in the show can spell disaster for existing relationships. Observant fans have noted this pattern among both contestants and professional dancers over the years, and this has been the case for Katya, as reported by the Mirror.

In 2018, Katya, then married to fellow Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones, and celebrity dance partner Seann Walsh were seen in an embrace that rocked the show. Seann, in a relationship at the time with actress Rebecca Humphries, fled to America following the fallout and has since shared his remorse.

He offered an insight into that tumultuous period during his 2022 comedy act: "I left the wardrobe department and before I could order my first beer, my agent came over to and asked if he could have a word with me outside. I thought, 'He is going to tell me I have got Michael McIntyre's Big Show! I had better act surprised!"

However, the news he received was decidedly less welcome: "Turns out, I didn't have to act surprised. We went into the car park, my agent looked over his glasses and said, 'About 20 minutes ago, they posted a photo of you kissing Katya outside a pub'. It was at that exact point that my life would turn upside down - the dream turned into a nightmare."

He confessed the sequence of events on his night out with Katya: "I was in a relationship, my dance partner Katya was married. After training, we went for a drink, one thing led to another and we were photographed kissing outside a pub. Awful, I know. It's awful - I'm sorry. I'm still sorry now."

When Katya appeared on The Lovejoy Hour podcast, she took the opportunity to reflect on a past episode in her life, insisting it "doesn't define her" and sharing how much she has grown since. She stated emphatically: "Whatever is written or whatever people think, it doesn't matter. I'm so disconnected from it."

In the wake of their marriage breakdown in 2019, despite speculation, Neil was clear that the incident with Seann was not the cause of his and Katya's split. Speaking with The Sun in 2020, Neil revealed their natural drift apart: "We found that we'd grown apart like people do, so we were like, 'OK, let's go our separate ways'. We are lucky that we don't have kids."

In the same interview, he reflected positively on their relationship following their separation: "It had nothing to do with what happened [with Seann]. We were moving in different directions but we are friends again now. Katya is a great girl and I've got nothing bad to say about her. "

Now at 41 and engaged to Chyna Mills, a former contestant of Love Island, Neil is experiencing new joys, such as the birth of their daughter, Havana Jones. In discussions about her future, Neil told Hello! magazine: "It would be amazing if she wants to be a dancer, but she can be whatever she wants to be."

Earlier in the year, Katya shared with The Sun that she was looking for love. She divulged: "We will be definitely going on a husband-hunting trip very soon. I mean we're constantly husband-hunting. Modern dating is very complicated, I don't always understand men's thinking, but I'd like to think I'm a good judge of character."

In a chat with the Daily Express, when asked about her pursuit of love, Katya replied: "It's going! It's still going! It's still on."

Aimee Fuller, Olympic snowboarder and friend, chimed in saying, "The hunt is on. There are lots of good events in the next few weeks so we will be out, living. That's what it's all about. Good conversation and meeting people is everything."

Strictly Come Dancing is on BBC One on Saturdays and Sundays and on BBC iPlayer