Strictly's Neil and Katya Jones split 'because he couldn't get over wife's scandalous kiss with her dance partner Seann Walsh'
- The couple announced the end of their 11 year romance on Instagram on Sunday
- Neil and Katya married in an idyllic ceremony in London in 2013
- The story of their romance played out in their stage show Somnium: A Dancer's Dream, which they toured with until June this year
- The split comes 10 months after Katya was seen kissing her Strictly dance partner Seann Walsh in the street
- She was the first to break her silence following the split with a ring-free Instagram snap posted on Monday, which Neil 'liked'
Strictly Come Dancing professionals Katya and Neil Jones announced the end of their marriage on Sunday, with insiders now claiming the split is due to Katya's scandalous kiss during the 2018 series of the BBC show.
The dancers confirmed they were splitting in joint Instagram statements posted over the weekend, but despite writing they had mutual 'respect' and 'love', a source has claimed Katya's infidelity was something her husband couldn't get over.
Katya was famously pictured kissing her celebrity partner, comedian Seann Walsh, during the 2018 series of Strictly.
Split: Strictly pros Katya and Neil Jones' split is due to Katya's scandalous kiss during the 2018 series of the BBC show an insider has claimed (pictured in April)
A source told The Sun on Monday that their 11 year romance was rocked by the cheating:
'The infidelity highlighted problems within the relationship and made it impossible for them to get back on track,' they alleged.
The source continued by claiming that poor ticket sales for their joint tour Somnium: A Dancer's Dream also created tension, explaining: 'The public were not buying into them together any more.'
Ahem: The dancers, took to Instagram to announce the news that they were parting ways just 10 months after she was seen kissing her Strictly dance partner Seann Walsh in the street
The insider added though that the pro dancers are committed to working together on Strictly 'as it's their main source of income,' with divorced dancers Kevin and Karen Clifton being their guides as they navigate work amid the split.
Representatives for Neil and Katya have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
Neil looked in good spirits as he headed to the first day of rehearsals on Monday ahead of the show's start date in September.
Neil was without his wedding ring for the outing, just hours after Katya, 30, shared a picture in which she wasn't wearing her own.
Ring the changes: Neil was pictured for the first time since announcing the split as he headed to day one of rehearsals after ditching his wedding band
Ring: Katya has broken her silence since announcing the split, by sharing a snap, which Neil gave a like - she too has ditched her wedding ring
The dancer, who has had a promotion on this season, so he will now be paired with a celebrity, was casually dressed, wearing a T-shirt and tracksuit.
He carried his lunch in his hand and appeared to not have a care in the world - no doubt pleased that he and his ex have managed to remain friends.
He was also seen talking to fellow Strictly pros, Karen and Kevin Clifton - they announced the end of their marriage in March 2018, but remain close.
Tough: A source has claimed Katya's infidelity was something her husband couldn't get over
SOS! Neil was no doubt seeking advice from a couple of other friendly exes, Karen and Kevin Clifton, who remain close regardless of their split
Meanwhile, Katya made no mention of the demise of her marriage in her latest Instagram post, which was uploaded on Monday morning and showed her wearing a bright orange and pink fluffy gown.
The Russian beauty rested on an outdoor step for the shot, in which she posed with her arms folded, while her ring finger was notably bare — and her estranged husband Neil showed his approval by liking the image.
Captioning the playful pic, she wrote: 'Ever wondered how I dress on Monday morning?
'Yeah... just a casual boring outfit. #happymonday #newweek #chicken #layingeggs #strictly #strictlycomedancing #dancer #feathers #outfit.'
Heartache: The Strictly stars have split after 11 years of marriage (pictured in November)
Her post came a day the dancing exes took to Instagram to announce the end of their marriage as they confirmed they are parting ways just 10 months after she was seen kissing Seann Walsh in the street.
In their announcement, the couple penned: '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.'
Neil and Katya were dating for five years when they wed in an idyllic ceremony in London in 2013. The story of their romance played out in their stage show Somnium: A Dancer's Dream, which they toured with until June this year.
The last shot... In the last known picture of the couple, Neil and Katya seemed strained as they joined the rest of their Strictly co-stars in heading to rehearsals last month
In the last known picture of Neil and Katya, the couple seemed strained as they joined the rest of their Strictly co-stars in heading to rehearsals last month.
Their news will comes as a shock to many fans, with their announcement continuing: '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 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'.
Katya's kiss with Seann caused ructions as they were seen locking lips in the street, on what transpired to be his then-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries' birthday.
In what became a huge scandal, actress Rebecca took to Twitter when the images came to light to release an open letter aimed at the comedian.
She hit out at Seann in a statement, revealing the images of him kissing Katya were taken after he told her they were going for 'a quiet drink'.
In her statement, Rebecca revealed she had suspicions about her boyfriend cheating for at least three weeks, but claimed when she brought it up, he called her a 'psycho' and accused her of being 'nuts'.
Rebecca revealed she had left him and taken the cat and was 'not sorry' for doing so. She accused the star - her partner for more than five years - of 'inappropriate and hurtful' behaviour.
Kind: Neil's sister Terri shared a sweet message of support to both her brother and Katya
Shocking news: Seann had been in a relationship with actress Rebecca for more than three years when the scandal came to light while Katya and Neil had been together for 10
While Seann's romance came to a crashing close, Neil vowed to stick by his wife as he insisted they had worked through their troubles.
Katya issued a statement regarding the scandal, as she tweeted: ''I'm so sorry about any offence or hurt I may have caused with my actions...
'I wasn't thinking and it was a one-off mistake after some drinks. I love my husband and we are very happy together, this is not a reflection on our relationship.'
In March, Neil spoke about how they were impacted by the kissing scandal, as he told the Daily Mail: 'It was a shock and we had to work it out between ourselves, to understand what had happened...
'But I wasn't going to allow that one little thing to get in the way of ten very happy years. People have said to me, 'Why didn't you feel this? Why didn't you say that?'...
'For me, the initial reaction was to stay calm. I didn't want to run around in a panic, because that's not me...
'I'm private. I'm also quite positive. I wanted to speak to Katya – we had to sort it out privately.'
He went on to bashfully admit that it was his mother who helped persuade him to forgive his wife and move on.
He went on: 'Mum always said people make mistakes and you have to be understanding.
'It was a mistake, and we're here now, together, moving on.'
A year ago: Seann and Rebecca were pictured on Instagram on her birthday on October 3, 2017 - however last year he spent the day with Katya
Rebecca's statement: Rebecca insisted she was 'not a victim' in her October statement and has left Seann and 'took the cat' after he kissed his dance partner in London
VICTIMS OF THE STRICTLY CURSE
A look back at when The Curse struck... starting all the way back with series 1
Series 1: Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole
Strictly hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons during season one. Viewers were transfixed by the apparent close bond between newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and her hunky partner Brendan Cole.
Did they/didn't they? Natasha and her hunky partner Cole sparked affair rumours
Although the pair went on to win the show, their success was blighted by affair rumours.
BBC presenter Natasha soon split from long-term partner Mike Barnard while Brendan dumped his fiancée and fellow dancer Camilla Dallerup.
Writing in her book Strictly Inspirational, Camilla said their split was like a 'mini death'.
'You go through the arc of grief, anger, bitterness,' she said. 'My best friend and dancing professionally with Brendan had both gone.'
However, Natasha has always denied any wrongdoing, saying: 'There was chemistry, of course, and I certainly fell in love with dancing, but I did not fall in love with Brendan.'
Series 5: Matt Di Angelo and Flavia Cacace
Of all the Strictly romances there's been over the years, this remains one of the most interesting.
Clandestine: Before long gossip was raging about how Flavia and Matt, then 19, were secretly in love
Flavia Cacace was in a long-term relationship with her dance partner Vincent Simone when she was partnered with Matt Di Angelo in 2007. He was eight years her junior.
Before long gossip was raging about how Flavia and Matt, then 19, were secretly in love. Shortly after the show finished she called time on her romance with Vincent and went public with Matt.
Looking back at their partnership, Matt told Daily Mail: ‘It was a pretty crazy time. It was front page news.
'The funny thing was the story did not start off as true, but the more you read it, the more you started to believe it and actually act on it.'
Their romance ended in 2010, and a few weeks later Flavia admitted she was dating her latest dance partner, actor Jimi Mistry, who she went on to marry.
Series 7: Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff
Not to be: Kristina is said to have also wanted children while Joe already has two sons from a previous relationship
Over: Unfortunately for Kara and Artem their relationship didn't go the distance
Scandal: Kristina was recently forced to defend her romance with Ben
Former boxer Joe Calzaghe split with his girlfriend of five years Jo-Emma Larvin just a week into the show in 2009.
The sportsman began a relationship with Russian dancer Kristina Rihanoff soon afterwards.
The pair enjoyed a four-year romance but parted ways after Joe reportedly asked Kristina not to accept a role dancing in a stage production.
Speaking to Hello! Kristina said: 'He was sick and tired of waiting around for me, and said that if I truly loved him, I wouldn’t have taken the job in the West End.'
Kristina is said to have also wanted children while Joe already has two sons from a previous relationship.
Series 8: Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev
Unfortunately for Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev their relationship didn't manage to go the distance.
After winning the show in 2010 the pair hooked up, love quickly blossomed and they moved into a London home together.
However, it’s believed Russian Artem’s visa issues saw him having to spend time apart from Kara for months on end and they eventually decided to call it a day.
Actress Kara welcomed her baby son, Frey with fiancé Marius Jensen in 2018, while Artem has struck up a romance with retired WWE wrestler, Nikki Bella since moving to the US to compete on Dancing With the Stars in 2014.
Series 11: Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff
Kristina Rihanoff was recently forced to defend her romance with Strictly partner Ben Cohen insisting that their relationship only began once his 11 year marriage to wife Abby had come to an end.
'He left his wife a year ago,' she told Daily Mirror. 'Recently we started dating but we're allowed to see each other as two single people.'
Kristina – who has also dated Vincent Simone and ex partner Joe Calzaghe – said there have been other couples, yet she is the only one to be 'attacked'.
She said: 'Ben's said it many times and I'll say it again - I wasn't involved in the breaking up of his marriage.'
Meanwhile Abby described the split and resultant divorce as 'the most traumatic thing to ever happen to me'.
Ben, 37, met Abby in 1995 at the age of 17, and the couple married in 2003 before welcoming their daughters in 2008.
Series 11: Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
'It doesn't exist!' Rachel brushed aside the fact that The Curse exists, after she left her husband and got together with Pasha
On the same series, Countdown's math whiz Rachel Riley's relationship with her pro partner Pasha Kovalev ultimately ended her marriage to her husband of just one year.
She wed Jamie Gilbert in 2012, taking part on 2013's season of the dancing show. By the end of 2013, they had split and she was with Pasha - which she claims began after the show came to an end.
'On Strictly, you form a close bond with your partner, but there was nothing romantic when Pasha and I were dancing. It was just dancing,' she told the Mail the following January, insisting there's no such thing as The Curse.
'[Strictly] serves as a magnifying glass that shows up pre-existing fault lines,' she said, explaining the situation. She is still with Pasha today.
Series 11: Susanna Reid
Epiphany: Shortly after the show ended, Susanna split from her long-term partner Dominic Cotton
Divorcee: Actress Sunetra also announced her marriage split after starring on Strictly
Susanna Reid was another victim of series 11. She was billed as the most popular breakfast TV host and in a 15-year relationship when she reached the Strictly Come Dancing final that year.
However shortly after the show ended, the TV host split from her long-term partner Dominic Cotton.
However, mother-of-three Susanna, who was paired with professional Kevin Clifton, said the programme was not to blame for her love problems.
Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna told Daily Mirror: 'I think people think Strictly was bound up in what happened. It wasn’t. Obviously things have been challenging in my personal life but we are getting things sorted.'
Series 12: Sunetra Sarker
Actress Sunetra Sarker also announced her marriage split after starring on Strictly.
She parted ways with her husband Nick Corfield after ten years of marriage just before the programme hit the screens.
The couple first met in 1989 while on holiday in Jersey and have a 13-year-old son together.
However, she said the romance had ended long before her reality show stint: 'The truth is three years ago me and my husband amicably split up and it obviously had nothing to do with Strictly.'
The Casualty actress, who plays Dr Zoe Hanna in the BBC medical drama, is now said to be dating business partner Scott Carey. Together, the pair set up the food firm Keep Me Fresh.
Series 12: Caroline Flack
Caroline Flack broke up with her boyfriend of a year and a half, Jack Street, after making her way into the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final.
The price of success: Caroline Flack broke up with her boyfriend of a year and a half, Jack Street, after making her way into the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final
According to The Sun, she was 'distraught' backstage at the BBC show, but managed to put on a brave face to wow with her Tango and top the leader board.
A source close to her told the newspaper: 'It came to a natural end and was mutual.'
Some contestants have ended relationships to engage in a romance with their dance partner on the show, but the source noted that in Caroline's case, this wasn't the reason.
'No one else is involved,' they stated.
Caroline had been seeing music manager Jack for around 18 months and she previously said that he was fine with her working on the talent show despite its reputation.
'Jack's been completely fine about the whole curse thing,' she said, quoted in The Mirror. 'He hasn't once been worried'.
Series 13: Helen George
Over and out: Helen announced her split from husband of three years Oliver Boot, after she was revealed as a contestant (pictured with pro Aljaz Skorjanec)
It did not take long before the dreaded curse of Strictly struck again.
Actress Helen George announced her split from husband of three years, fellow actor Oliver Boot, after she was revealed as a contestant on the show.
'I can confirm that Helen separated from her husband some time ago,' a spokesperson for the star said. She has not been linked to any fellow Strictly contestants or professional dancers.
A Royal Academy Of Music graduate, Helen is best known for starring as Nurse Beatrix 'Trixie' Franklin in the hit BBC period drama Call The Midwife.
George has also performed as a back-up singer for Sir Elton John and starred in a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Zippel called The Woman In White.
She met her former partner on set of BBC drama Hotel Babylon, and the couple married in December 2012.
Series 13: Georgia May Foote
The actress was in a relationship with her Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward when she took part in the 2015 series of the show.
Break-up: Shortly after Georgina finished runner-up in the final, she announced her split from Sean
But cracks began to show as it was reported that Sean was enraged with jealousy over her decision to take part, and even allegedly accompanied her to rehearsals at the beginning of her Strictly journey.
Shortly after she finished runner-up in the final, she and Sean announced their split - with Georgia seen kissing her dance partner Giovanni Pernice during a romantic trip to Disneyland soon after.
However, shortly before rehearsals for the 2016 series began, Georgia and Giovanni called time on their romance after just a year.
Giovanni has since moved on with 2018 contestant and former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts, while Georgia is dating rapper Kris Evans.
Series 14: Louise and Jamie Redknapp
Divorced: Louise Redknapp appeared on the series in 2016, after which she and Jamie were said to be facing marital issues
Footballer Jamie Redknapp is said to have been offered a place on the Strictly line-up recently, but understandably has refused after the series was blamed for the demise of his marriage to wife Louise.
Louise appeared on the series in 2016, after which she and Jamie were said to be facing marital issues. By the end of 2017, they were divorced.
It was highly-speculated that Louise realised, during the show, that she wanted to get back to work having sacrificed her career for her marriage - with co-star Daisy Lowe said to have helped her 'rediscover her youth'.
A TV source said: 'Strictly used to be show that no celebrity ever turned down. But the Curse has changed all that. There is now a genuine concern that appearing on the show can negatively impact relationships. Jamie only has negative feelings about Strictly now. There’s absolutely no way he would appear.'
Louise was also rumoured to have struck up a romantic bond with her pro partner Kevin Clifton, but this has never been confirmed.
Series 14: Kevin and Karen Clifton
Split: The Cliftons - a married pair of pro dancers - split romantically in 2018
Despite the rumours surrounding thrice-married Kevin while he partnered with Louise, nothing seemed to transpire between the two. He was, of course, married at the time too - to fellow pro Karen Clifton.
However, since then, the pair have split up.
Kevin proposed to her, on her birthday, on stage during a performance of Burn the Floor and they wed in July 2015. But in March 2018, they confirmed that they were no longer together romantically.
They have since continued to work together as a pro dance partnership, however, insisting there is no bad blood.
Series 16: Stacey Dooley, Sam Tucknott and Kevin Clifton
We're done: Stacey's boyfriend of five years Sam Tucknott, 30, revealed Stacey had left him in an interview with the Mail On Sunday
Stacey's boyfriend of five years Sam Tucknott, 30, revealed Stacey had left him in an interview with the Mail On Sunday in April. He called her dance partner, three-times married Kevin Clifton, 36, a slippery snake
Sam confronted Kevin in furious video chat where he branded him a 'proper rat'. He told MoS in an exclusive interview he feels betrayed by the new couple's romance.
It has been alleged that Stacey and Kevin's relationship was an 'open secret' on the Strictly tour News has cast shadow over latest series of show, resurrecting the so-called 'Strictly curse' that has seen 14 couples split.
The TV presenter, 32, broke her silence on Twitter soon after, insisting there 'are two sides to every story'
All over: In August 2019, just ahead of series 17, Neil and Katya announced their split after 11 years of marriage
Series 16/17: Katya and Neil Jones
2018 saw The Curse strike early on in the season, with drama escalating just three weeks into the live shows.
In a new twist, a love square formed when Katya Jones, who is married to fellow show professional Neil, was snapped all over her celeb partner, comedian Seann Walsh, on the street outside a pub in London. This took part on Sean's girlfriend's - actress and writer Rebecca Humphries - birthday, no less.
Dumped: Neil and Katya's break-up comes 10 months after her kiss with Seann (pictured with ex-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries)
The pair brushed it off as a 'one-off mistake', despite them kissing and laughing brazenly in public. Since then, Rebecca 'dumped' Seann via a Twitter statement.
Seann and Katya did not pull out of the show, with their dalliance a gigantic elephant in the room as they still performed on the series, with Neil on set too.
However, In August 2019, just ahead of series 17, Neil and Katya announced their split after 11 years of marriage. The break-up coming just 10 months after her kiss with Seann.
Series 18: Nadiya Bychkova, Matija Škarabot and Kai Widdrington
In January 2022, Nadiya revealed she had split from her fiancé Matija Škarabot, with whom she shares her five-old daughter.
New couple: Fellow professional dancers Nadiya and Kai struck up a romance after she split from her fiancé Matija
The news broke shortly after she had partnered with married BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker and there were rumours of a romance, which they were quick to dispel.
The professional dancer later revealed that she had in fact secretly split from her fiancé before series 18 had even began and during that time she struck up a dancer with fellow pro Kai - who had been romantically linked to his partner that series - AJ Odudu.
While Nadiya did not disclose exactly when she and Kai started dating she said in her first interview about their romance that she found him to be 'He’s kind and compassionate and makes me laugh. I feel very relaxed with him.’
Series 18: Max George, Stacey Giggs and Maisie Smith
Dancing through life: Max and Maisie struck up a romance after appearing on series 18 of the hit show together
When Max appeared on series 18 of Strictly he was happily loved-up with Stacey, whom he had been dating for four years, with the singer taking on the role of stepfather to her two children.
Yet months after appearing on the show he began a relationship with fellow series 18 star Maisie Smith, who had been linked to singer HRVY during her initial time on the show.
Yet Max and Maisie are said to have grown close on the Strictly live tour, which took place a couple of months after they appeared on the show together.
Stacey then accused her ex of cheating on her with Maisie and reportedly felt 'betrayed' by her former beau.
Series 19: Adam Peaty and Eirianedd Munro
Sad: Adam Peaty has split from his girlfriend Eirianedd Munro after three years together and apologised for 'letting down' his partner and their son
In an Instagram statement in August 2022, Olympic swimmer Adam took to Instagram to confirm that he and his girlfriend Eirianedd Munro had split after three years together.
He said that the couple had decided to go 'their separate ways' but that their son George, who is two next month, remained their 'priority'.
Announcing the news via social media, Adam wrote: 'Eiri and George, I'm sorry for letting you down. My only interest is for the well-being of our family at this difficult time.'
The split comes Adam raised eyebrows with his chemistry with pro partner Katya Jones on the dance floor last year, with eagle-eyed fans claiming they thought that they nearly kissed at the end of one steamy routine.
After the incident, Eirianedd admitted she had been 'really emotional' after her sportsman beau's 'near kiss' with Katya.
Eirianedd, told fans she took a 'short break' from social media after Adam and Katya got very close at the end of their racy Argentine Tango last autumn.
Series 19: Rose Ayling-Ellis and Sam Arnold
Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis has wished dance partner Giovanni Pernice a happy birthday after splitting from her long-term boyfriend Sam Arnold.
The EastEnders actress, 27, was with her partner for seven years, with him cheering her on as she lifted the glitterball trophy last year.
Sad: Strictly winner Rose Ayling-Ellis has reportedly split from her long-term boyfriend Sam Arnold (pictured together)
But the couple have reportedly called it quits as Rose continues to throw herself into work after being inundated with offers after winning Strictly.
It comes after it was recently reported that Rose's friends have expressed doubt over the couple's future due to their busy work schedules and have said they are worried that the infamous Strictly curse may strike again.
Rose - who has kept her relationship fairly private over the years - holidayed in Barcelona by herself earlier this year.
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