Neil Jones, a professional dancer on the BBC's "Strictly Come Dancing," has reportedly not been assigned a celebrity partner for the upcoming series, marking the seventh time in ten years he will be benched. Jones, who joined the competition in 2016, was last partnered with singer Toyah Willcox in 2024, with their partnership ending after two weeks.
Sources suggest Jones is "gutted" by the decision. He is said to have missed several pre-recorded group dances due to an injury sustained during rehearsals this month. Despite not having a partner, Jones is expected to remain a visible part of the show. "Bosses love him because of his jokey personality, so expect to see him on set as much as possible," a source told The Sun.
The "Strictly Come Dancing" franchise has recently faced scrutiny over a "fix" row, with reports indicating that nine of the 15 celebrities announced for the upcoming season have prior dance or performance experience. This development has led to claims that a significant portion of the cast may have an unfair advantage over competitors with no background in dance.
Among the celebrities with reported past experience are Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, who studied at The Dance School of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; Love Island winner and professional dancer Cach Mercer; and Dani Dyer, who described herself as a "qualified dancer" in her 2019 autobiography and attended O’Farrell’s Stage School. Other participants with performing arts backgrounds include EastEnders star Lacey Turner, who attended Sylvia Young Theatre School; singer Delta Goodrem, who had childhood lessons in dancing, singing, and acting; Jaime Winstone, who earned a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts; and Bethany Antonia, known for her role in "House of the Dragon," who studied musical theatre. Melanie Walters, from "Gavin & Stacey," also has panto experience, and presenter Graeme Hall participated in a dance competition called "Strictly Northampton" in 2012.
An insider commented that there is no rule preventing celebrities with prior dance experience from joining the show, noting that it would be difficult to cast entirely without such individuals, given the prevalence of stage school training within the entertainment industry. Representatives for "Strictly Come Dancing" have been contacted for comment.