Strictly Come Dancing star Neil Jones has been flooded with messages of love and support as he marked a year since the devastating loss of his father. The professional dancer, known for being part of the hit BBC One dance show since 2016, took to social media to commemorate the anniversary.
A Year Since His Father's Passing
Last November, Neil confirmed the death of his dad in a social media post, sharing a series of black and white photos of his father on Instagram. At the time, he wrote: "Yesterday I said goodbye to my Dad for the final time."
He added: "I thought I knew my dad but yesterday I realised I didn’t after hearing so many lovely & funny stories from family and his closest friends, I know he would be smiling looking down with a pint in his hand. Thank you Wendy and everyone for making it such a special day. RIP DAD."
Heartfelt Tribute and Support
On Wednesday (October 21), Neil returned to social media to mark the anniversary. Sharing a picture of them sharing a pint together, he told his followers: "It's been a year, and I know you'll be having a pint, smiling and looking down on us all [heart emoji]." He also captioned the post: "Thinking of you [heart emoji]."
Neil's Strictly co-stars were quick to flood the comments section with heart emojis, while fans shared their condolences. @singingsammy86 said: "Sending you lots of love and hugs on this difficult day. Try and remember the fun memories you had with him." @hufflepuffof2022 commented: "My heart goes out to you!" @karen_brown55 wrote: "Thinking for you." @emma_gittinsx added: "Sending lots of love."
Life Milestones Since the Loss
Since his dad's passing, Neil has married his partner, Chyna Mills. The BBC star and the former Love Islander were first linked in August 2022, when they appeared on a red carpet together. They announced their engagement in April 2023 and confirmed they were expecting their first child. Havana was then born in October 2023.
In July, the couple officially wed at Old Marylebone Town Hall, with the newlyweds revealing the happy news days later on social media. Neil and Chyna announced their happy news on Instagram, sharing a black-and-white carousel of photos.
Career on Strictly
During his decade on Strictly, Neil has competed with three partners. In 2019, he danced with former footballer-turned-presenter Alex Scott and finished in fifth place. In 2021, he was paired with EastEnders star Nina Wadia, but they were the first couple to be eliminated.
Neil's last partner was in 2024, when he was paired with singer Tonya Willcox. This year, he has been seen poking fun at being without a celebrity partner for the 2026 series, posting regular videos mocking his own position on the hit programme on social media.
