Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones has revealed she would consider leaving her role as a dancer on the show if offered a judging position. The 37-year-old Russian dancer, who joined the BBC series in 2016 and won the Glitterball trophy with actor Joe McFadden in 2017, said she would be keen to follow in the footsteps of former pro Anton Du Beke.
Having already served as a judge on Dancing with the Stars Belgium in 2025, Jones told the Express at the TRIC Awards: "Why not? Of course I would!" She added: "I've done judging in other countries and it felt very natural for me to do that. I would definitely be eyeing up that seat, whichever one it is!"
Anton Du Beke spent 18 years as a professional dancer on Strictly before becoming a judge in 2021. Jones is the longest-serving female professional currently on the show. The judging panel remains unchanged for the upcoming series, but the presenting lineup has been revamped with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and dancer Johannes Radebe taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Jones praised the new presenters, saying: "You can't replace someone, you have to bring someone with their own flavour and that's what they've done." She added: "Emma is top of her game. I heard that their chemistry together is really good. It's so nice to see somebody from our side, as a professional dancer, grow into another role."
The BBC recently confirmed Jones would return for the next series, following the departure of several long-serving professionals. She posted on Instagram: "See you in September. Back on @bbcstrictly. To give all of you a reason to smile, bring families together, to offer something joyful to carry us through the winter. Shall we dance?" Fans reacted positively, with many expressing excitement at her continued presence.
