Katya Jones Considered Quitting Strictly After Heartbreaking Elimination
The professional dancer revealed that she doubted her ability to return to the show after her 2023 quarter-final exit.
Katya Jones, a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing since 2016, has disclosed that she contemplated leaving the show after a "heartbreaking" elimination in the quarter-finals of the 2023 series. Jones and her partner, actor Lewis Cope, narrowly missed advancing to the semi-finals after facing Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin in the dance-off.
Jones, 37, admitted that after the challenging end to the season, she "wasn't sure if she could face it again" when considering her eleventh year on the program. This admission follows a significant cast shake-up, with several long-serving professional dancers, including Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, and Luba Mushtuk, being cut earlier this year.
In an exclusive interview, Jones elaborated on her decision to remain with the show, stating, "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."
She explained that her expectations, both personal and external, had been high, and seeing their journey cut short was "a little bit tough." However, her current partnership with football YouTuber John Mellor has reignited her passion. "As soon as we started, and especially after our first week, it just reminded me what a difference it makes, not just to him, to the whole nation," Jones said.
Jones emphasized that the purpose of the show extends beyond individual dancers. "We are giving the nation something to look forward to and get through the winter. So it's not about me. Get your little ego, shove it deep down there and give people a good time." She affirmed that she continues to love Strictly as much as when she started and will leave when that passion fades.
Reflecting on the scrutiny and trolling she has faced throughout her tenure, particularly after a public incident in 2018, Jones shared her coping mechanisms. "You cannot control it. You cannot cancel it out. You let it happen alongside your life, but that's not my life. That doesn't define my life," she stated. Jones focuses on her work, aiming to deliver excellent performances regardless of public opinion, believing that her dancing should speak for itself.