Professional dancers Katya and Neil Jones have reportedly sustained injuries during rehearsals for the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing, potentially impacting their ability to partner with celebrity contestants. The injuries, which occurred last week, forced rehearsals to halt and resulted in the former couple missing pre-recorded group dances.
A source close to the production told The Sun that the professional dancers are under significant pressure to film group dances for the series, which are shown throughout the season. The simultaneous injuries of both Katya and Neil Jones created a "real crisis on set," with concerns raised about their recovery time before the show's September 19 launch. Missing the group dances also means losing out on guaranteed screen time, which is particularly relevant for Neil Jones, who is not always paired with a celebrity.
The BBC has been approached for comment. The incident comes as the show prepares for its new hosting lineup. Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe are set to make their debut as hosts, alongside Johannes Radebe, following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The BBC is trialing a three-host format for the first time.
A trailer for the new series features the new hosts, along with professional dancers and judges Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood, and Anton Du Beke. The trailer showcases a high-energy routine performed by celebrities and professionals before revealing Willis, Widdicombe, and Radebe emerging from a golden "Strictly" trailer.
This year's launch show, scheduled for September 19, will also introduce a new format for celebrity and professional pairings. Instead of pre-filmed clips, partners will be revealed live in front of the studio audience through three specially choreographed group dance routines. The launch show is expected to feature more dancing than in previous years and will offer viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the celebrities' early rehearsal stages. Last year's champion, Karen Carney, will perform her "football jive" with Carlos Gu.
Returning professional dancers for the series include Amy Dowden, Dianne Buswell, Carlos Gu, Katya, Neil, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, Aljaž Škorjanec, Alexis Warr, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Julian Caillon, and Vito Coppola. Professionals Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, and Gorka Marquez were not retained for this season. The celebrity lineup has also faced scrutiny, with some participants described as less recognizable to the public. Among the more well-known contestants are Dani Dyer, Delta Goodrem, Jaime Winstone, Will Best, and Melanie Walters. Others, like Chris Appleton, a stylist with a large social media following, and YouTuber John Nellis, bring different forms of recognition to the show. The full lineup also includes Lacey Turner, Cach Mercer, Dame Sarah Storey, Bethany Antonia, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Graeme Hall, Lawrence Robb, and Tabby Stoecker.