The Strictly Come Dancing launch show airs this Saturday (September 7) on BBC One at 7:40pm. On the show, the 15 celebrities will find out which Strictly professionals they will be paired with. This year, a few new professionals are joining the line-up including Neil Jones, Johannes Radebe, Luba Mushtuk and Nancy Xu. Neil Jones was previously married to fellow Strictly professional Katya Jones but the couple announced they were separating after six years of marriage on August 18, 2019.
Who will last longer in the competition between Neil and Katya Jones?
Neil and Katya Jones joined the Strictly Come Dancing line-up in 2016.
While Katya has always competed with a celebrity partner, for the past three years Neil has only performed in the show’s group numbers and live tours.
He was lucky enough to partner Judy Murray and Anita Rani in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Specials but has never competed on the main show.
Neil has also only served a stand-in and occasionally performed in the Strictly spin-off show, Strictly: It Takes Two.
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The BBC has confirmed that for the first time, Neil will be taking to the dance floor with one of the 15 celebrities participating in this year’s show.
Neil is 37-years-old and has been dancing since he was three-years-old, first attending a local ballet school.
He specialises in tap, modern, Ballroom and Latins styles, representing Finland, the Netherlands and the UK during his career.
Neil is a four-time undefeated British National Professional Champion and eight-time Dutch National Champion.
He has won over 45 titles around the world during his career.
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Together, Katya and Neil were the three-time winners of the World Amateur Latin Championships and in 2015, they were crowned World Professional Latin Showdance Champions.
Katya is 30-years-old and began dancing at the age of six training in Ballroom and Latin American Dancing.
With Neil, Katya has become the four-time undefeated British National Professional Champions.
On Strictly Come Dancing, she has been paired with Ed Balls, Joe McFadden and Seann Walsh.
Although Katya has already lifted the Glitterball Trophy with partner Joe McFadden in 2017, Neil is currently the favourite to last longer in the competition his year than Katya.
At Ladbrokes, Neil is at odds of 1/3 to last the longest in the competition compared to Katya who is at odds of 9/4.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “It looks as though Strictly fans will very much be Team Neil this year. Not only are we expecting him to be paired with the show’s favourite in Alex Scott, but we also reckon he’ll outstay his ex on the series.”
Who exactly, the professionals will be paired with will be revealed on Saturday’s (September 7) launch show.
At the moment, Neil is at odds of 4/1 to be partnered with England footballer Alex Scott.
On the other hand, Katya is at odds of 9/2 to be paired with sports presenter Mike Bushell.
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Neil and Katya were together for 11 years and got married in 2013.
However, after over six years of marriage, Katya and Neil announced their relationship was over.
The split comes 10 months after Katya was spotted kissing her celebrity partner Seann Walsh after a night out in London.
However, there has been no suggestion this has anything to do with the couple’s split, a spokesperson told the BBC.
They told the BBC: “It would be incorrect and unfair to attribute their separation to one isolated incident.”
They announced they were splitting in a joint statement on Instagram which read: “Hi everyone. As our fans and loyal supporters, you are really important to us and so we wanted to let you know some news. After 11 years we have made the mutual decision to separate.
“We will always love each other, just in a different way as friends. This will never change what a great team we make and we are really proud of everything we have achieved together.
“Our shared love of dance means we will keep working and dancing together as well as exploring individual projects. No matter what we do we will always support and respect each other.
“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. Lots of love from us both xx”
Strictly Come Dancing 2019 launch show airs Saturday, September 7 at 7.40pm on BBC One
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