Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones showed signs of "utter agony and frustration" as she and celebrity partner John Nellis faced the bottom four last weekend, according to body language expert Judi James, who suggests the BBC star has "met her match" in the social media personality.
Jones, who has been part of the show since 2016, and Nellis were saved from the dance-off on November 7, but James believes the professional fully expected to be fighting for survival in the competition with her partner.
Signs of distress in the bottom four
Speaking to Paddy Power, James explained that Jones often turns "no-hopers" into potential winners through "sheer hard work and willpower." However, she commented: "But she seems to have met her match in John. John didn't look like a likely winner this season, but his first dance showed off some strong potential."
"Since then, though, he appears to be stalling or slipping, and through no obvious fault of Katya or himself. If they're not careful, he could be caught in a Strictly 'death spiral'," James added.
Non-verbal signals of growing misery
James said Jones's frustration was especially visible while waiting to see if they were in the dance-off. "Katya's non-verbal signals defined a state of utter agony and frustration. The other pro dancers adopted more stoic poses and looked ready to console their celebrities," she explained.
"But Katya stood in front of John with his hands on her shoulders as he looked like the one ready to offer support and consolation. Katya gazed straight ahead before looking down in a cut-off ritual with her lips closed and the corners of her mouth drooping in a signal of growing misery. She looked as though she fully expected to be in the dance off and those signals of misery intensified."
James observed that Jones twisted into "an expression of pain" when Bethany and Nancy's names were called out first, and when it came to the second call, her face creased "into an expression of agony," with Nellis offering comfort.
Fighting back in the competition
"Katya is a trooper and she will be fighting back with John next week, but it might be hard for her to find a way to get him out of the stall and decline that he seems to be in right now," James said.
Jones and Nellis currently sit at the bottom of last weekend's leaderboard, alongside Cach Mercer, after receiving a score of 26 from the judges. The leaderboards are set to change again on Saturday night (November 14) as the celebrities and professionals perform new routines.
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday on BBC One from 6:25pm.
