Neil Jones, a professional dancer on the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, will not be paired with a celebrity partner for the upcoming series, marking the seventh time he has been assigned to the sidelines. Jones, who joined the competition in 2016, was last partnered with singer Toyah Willcox in 2024, with the duo being eliminated after two weeks.
According to reports, Jones is said to be “gutted” about the decision. He was reportedly injured during rehearsals this month, causing him to miss several pre-recorded group dances. A source told The Sun that while Jones is a “much-loved and valued member of the cast,” not all professional dancers are assigned celebrity partners each season. The source added that Jones's “jokey personality” means he is expected to appear on set frequently.
This development comes as Strictly Come Dancing faces renewed scrutiny over claims that a significant portion of the celebrity cast for the upcoming season has prior dance experience. Reports indicate that nine out of the 15 celebrities have backgrounds in dance or performance. This includes Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, who trained at The Dance School of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and Love Island winner Cach Mercer, who worked as a professional dancer specializing in Hip-hop and Afrobeats. Dani Dyer, another Love Island contestant, has described herself as a “qualified dancer” in her autobiography and attended O’Farrell’s Stage School for 12 years. Other contestants with performance backgrounds include EastEnders star Lacey Turner, singer Delta Goodrem, Jaime Winstone, and Bethany Antonia, who studied musical theatre. Melanie Walters, known for her role in Gavin & Stacey, recently performed in a pantomime, 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 participating, adding that it would be challenging to find celebrities in the entertainment industry without any such background, as many attend stage school. The BBC has been contacted for comment regarding these claims.