Strictly Come Dancing professionals Neil and Katya Jones have separated after six years of marriage, their representatives have confirmed. The couple, who have been together for 11 years, said their relationship had become more of a friendship than a romance.
In a joint statement, the pair said: 'We wish one another every happiness and we will remain the best of friends. We are really looking forward to getting back to the ballroom and can't wait to keep on dancing.'
The dancers were at the centre of a media storm in 2018 after Katya was photographed kissing her celebrity partner, comedian Seann Walsh. Despite the scandal, the couple stayed together and insisted it was not the cause of their split.
A spokeswoman for the pair emphasised that the decision was not influenced by the controversy, stating: 'It would be incorrect and unfair to attribute their separation to one isolated incident.'
Walsh and Katya were voted off the show in October 2018, three weeks after the kissing pictures were published. The revelation also led to the end of Walsh's relationship with actress Rebecca Humphries.
