Katya Jones

Did You Know?

• Katya Jones was born Ekaterina Andreevna Sokolova on 12 May 1989 in Sestroretsk, near Leningrad, Soviet Union.
• She started dancing at age six, training in gymnastics as well as Ballroom and Latin-American dancing.
• Her father is a Russian senior oil company executive, and her mother is Korean and a graduate in engineering.
• Jones was married to fellow Strictly dancer Neil Jones from August 2013 to August 2019.
• In 2025, Jones starred in the short film Dakota Stone alongside fellow Strictly professional Nancy Xu.

Strictly Come Dancing

Jones joined Strictly Come Dancing as a professional for its 14th series in 2016, partnered with former Shadow chancellor Ed Balls. For the 15th series, she partnered Holby City actor Joe McFadden, and they became the series winners. In the 16th series, she was paired with comedian Seann Walsh, and for the 17th series with BBC sports presenter Mike Bushell. In the 18th series, Jones was part of the show's first same-sex couple, partnering professional boxer Nicola Adams; they withdrew on 12 November after Jones tested positive for COVID-19.

She then partnered Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty for the 19th series, reaching week 7 and finishing ninth. For the 20th series, she was partnered with former England footballer and manager Tony Adams; they withdrew during the week 8 results show after Adams sustained a hamstring injury during his original performance. From September 2023, she was partnered by stage and screen actor Nigel Harman for the 21st series; on week 11, just hours before the live show, Harman had to withdraw after sustaining a rib injury during rehearsals.

From September 2024, she was partnered by opera singer and BBC Radio Wales presenter Wynne Evans on the 22nd series. From September 2025, she was partnered with former Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope on the 23rd series.