Katya Jones has clarified a remark she made during the opening Strictly Come Dancing episode, telling her former dance partner Ed Balls she said "fierce", not "fit".
The BBC dance contest has returned with 15 famous faces competing, hoping to emulate Karen Carney, who won the glitterball trophy last year. This series follows a significant overhaul, with three new presenters - Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe - taking over from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, while five new professional dancers have been added to the lineup.
The clarification comes after recent Strictly controversies, including one involving Katya and her previous dance partner Wynne Evans, when viewers noticed her seemingly removing his hand from her waist. Both subsequently posted on social media to apologise, insisting it was an inside joke.
What Katya said during Lawrence's performance
During Saturday's show on 26 September, Katya was positioned upstairs in the previously-called Clauditorium as she observed Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb's routine with Jowita Pryzstal. The duo received a score of 20 for their Paso Doble, but while they were getting cheers from the audience and judges, Katya seemed to whisper something to fellow professional Aleksandra Isaeva.
Viewers were split on what she was saying, with some questioning whether she'd mouthed "fit". She has now set the record straight on what she actually said, in a message sent to her former dance partner Ed Balls.
Ed Balls reveals the WhatsApp message
The Good Morning Britain host was presenting the programme with Susanna Reid, when Richard Arnold delivered a Strictly update. Richard began: "Apparently Ed, I'm told you can precisely clear up what your old [dance partner] Katya Jones mouthed about Lawrence Robb on Saturday's show. Did she call him fit?"
"Did she say he's fit?" Susanna echoed. Ed replied: "I said yesterday, it's pretty clear she said he's fit, and actually, in my heart of heart, I still kind of think that. But she sent me a WhatsApp, 'I said fierce'." Still debating whether it was 'fit' or 'fierce', Susanna and Richard both said: "I'll take either."
"Katya's always told me the unvarnished truth, so it must be true," Ed added. Following Katya's remark, Lawrence's partner Pamela Blair mirrored her sentiment on social media, posting a snap of him dancing and writing: "So fierce."
Katya's current Strictly partner tops the leaderboard
Katya is paired with content creator John Nellis on Strictly this year, with the duo having claimed top spot on the leaderboard following their debut performance, securing 31 points. "I keep laughing in disbelief," he previously said about joining Strictly. "I keep realising the magnitude of it and getting a bit nervous. I keep saying to my wife how surreal it all is. I keep kind of going, 'This is mad.' So, nervous but ridiculously excited."
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
