Strictly’s Katya Jones claims the show helps ’empower’ people to get out of ‘unhappy relationships’

‘They realise they can do better’: Strictly’s Katya Jones claims the show helps ’empower’ people to get out of ‘unhappy relationships’

Katya Jones has claimed Strictly Come Dancing helps to ’empower’ its stars to get out of bad relationships.

The professional dancer, 31, spoke about the Strictly ‘curse’ on Friday, insisting it has a positive influence and the show can help people realise they ‘could do better’.

In October 2018 Katya was caught kissing her Strictly celebrity partner Seann Walsh, 35, after a night out in London, she was married to Neil Jones at the time, while Seann was dating actress Rebecca Humphries. 

‘They realise they can do better’: Strictly’s Katya Jones claimed on Friday that the show helps ’empower’ people to get out of ‘unhappy relationships’

Katya and Neil called quits on their six-year marriage, 10 months after the kissing snaps came to light. 

Katya told The Sun: ‘I think some people get empowered by it because of the sense of achievement they get from doing this brilliant show. 

‘Maybe they didn’t have the confidence, or the strength, to do these things before, or maybe some people were in long-term, unhappy relationships and doing Strictly empowered them to realise they could do better. 

‘People find themselves again. They realise they can do this and feel they can take on the world – that’s the amazing thing about this show.’

Curse: In October 2018 Katya was caught kissing her Strictly celebrity partner Seann Walsh, she was married to Neil Jones (pictured) at the time and Seann was dating Rebecca Humphries

Curse: In October 2018 Katya was caught kissing her Strictly celebrity partner Seann Walsh, she was married to Neil Jones (pictured) at the time and Seann was dating Rebecca Humphries

Reflecting: Of the Strictly 'curse', Katya said: 'Maybe some people were in long-term, unhappy relationships and doing Strictly empowered them to realise they could do better'

Reflecting: Of the Strictly ‘curse’, Katya said: ‘Maybe some people were in long-term, unhappy relationships and doing Strictly empowered them to realise they could do better’

Katya insisted that the Strictly ‘curse’ doesn’t always happen, as she said there are plenty of stars who are perfectly happy with their home life. 

The Russian dancer claimed she doesn’t regret her own scandal even if it was ‘mental’, and said she and former husband Neil are closer than ever.  

Katya went on to admit that she and Neil both ‘learned lessons’ and although are no longer together they are pals and happy, even keeping in touch over lockdown. 

Moving: Katya and Neil called quits on their six-year marriage, 10 months after the kissing snaps came to light, though she now insists they're closer than ever

Moving: Katya and Neil called quits on their six-year marriage, 10 months after the kissing snaps came to light, though she now insists they’re closer than ever

Throwback: Katya said she was offered therapy by the BBC following the scandal, but was already seeing someone from her competing days (pictured with Seann on the show in 2018)

Throwback: Katya said she was offered therapy by the BBC following the scandal, but was already seeing someone from her competing days (pictured with Seann on the show in 2018)

The performer also revealed that she was offered therapy by the BBC following the furore, but was already seeing someone from her competing days. 

Now two years on, Katya has been back in the headlines for her history making partnership with boxer Nicola Adams. 

The duo became the first all-female partnership in the 2020 series of Strictly Come Dancing however had to drop out early when Katya tested positive for COVID-19.       

Katya has spoken several times about how she’s found the chatter over her dancing with Nicola ‘strange’ as it’s a completely normal thing in the dance world.   

However she did admit that it was ‘exciting’ for people to see two women dancing on a prime time TV show, even if it wasn’t an unusual sight for the professionals.

And although Nicola and Katya did not get to see the competition through until the end they will be returning to screens for a final dance. 

Covid: Two years on, Katya has been back in the headlines for her history making partnership with boxer Nicola Adams, before they were forced to pull out when Katya contracted COVID-19

Covid: Two years on, Katya has been back in the headlines for her history making partnership with boxer Nicola Adams, before they were forced to pull out when Katya contracted COVID-19