It was a cold October afternoon exactly six years ago when Katya Jones found herself at the center of the 'Strictly Curse'.
After a trip to the pub after training, she and her Strictly partner, comedian Seann Walsh, were caught by paparazzi kissing in an alley. She was married to dancer Neil Jones, also a professional on the BBC show, and Walsh was in a long-term relationship.
A few days later the photographs were sold to a major newspaper for around £20,000. For Katya, the consequences of its publication were complete torment. She was trolled mercilessly on social media, portrayed as a scarlet woman who had tried to steal another woman's man.
Both Katya and Seann immediately apologized, but were eliminated from the show a week later. Katya is still so shocked by the episode (she subsequently separated from her husband Neil) that she doesn't even talk about it today. During media interviews there is a non-negotiable rule that Seann's name or even that kiss is never mentioned.
“She has tried so hard to erase him from her history,” said a source close to her. “She can't stand it.”
Since then, Katya, 35, has promised that her Strictly career will be all about dancing… and dancing alone.
So when she was paired with chubby Welsh radio presenter and opera singer Wynne Evans, 52, best known as the star of the Go Evaluate adverts, you could have been forgiven for expecting this year's Strictly, her 14th series, the scandal will pass. -free.
Katya moved to Wales so she could train around Wynne's schedule and has been spending a lot of time with her family, sources say.
“If Katya dates someone attractive, it's over, the whole Strictly curse comes up again,” says a source close to the star. 'She was judged as a woman who has been involved with a man who is kidnapped and fitted perfectly with the Strictly curse narrative.
'But Katya just likes to dance, that's what she does on Strictly, and she takes it very seriously. Katya takes great pride in teaching her peers how to dance and loves to let that speak for itself.
However, on Saturday night, Katya's hopes of keeping the drama at bay were dashed when viewers witnessed a strange interaction with Wynne. The pair had just finished their tango to Abba's Cash, Cash, Cash, for which they earned an impressive score of 34 out of 40.
As they smiled for the cameras, Wynne, who was standing behind Katya, ran his hand around her waist before she quickly pulled it away.
As they smiled for the cameras, Wynne, who was standing behind Katya, ran his hand around her waist before she quickly pulled it away.
Katya later appeared to reject Wynne's attempt at a high-five, walking away from him.
The clips quickly went viral and sparked a wave of discussion on social media. 'Anyone else see Katya push Wynne's hand away?' one fan asked. 'Urgh… I just saw the Wynne clip. Katya was clearly uncomfortable,” said another.
But Katya immediately jumped to Wynne's defense. The pair insist the wandering hand incident was a “silly prank” in a series of public statements on social media, and they repeated the line again on Monday night when they appeared, both quite emotional, on the spin-off show. Strictly, It Takes Two.
Wynne said he had seen footage of the incident and confessed: “I can see how people may have misinterpreted it.” Grabbing his arm, Katya said she “can't stand” the criticism her co-star is receiving and said there was no crime.
'The idea that he made me feel uncomfortable or offended in any way is complete nonsense. “I can't sit by and watch this man be portrayed as someone he's not,” she said. 'In fact, it couldn't be further from the truth.
Later, Katya seemed to snub Wynne's attempt at a high-five by walking away from him.
'I have to make it absolutely clear that this entire incident… was an inside joke between Wynne and me. Was it a stupid joke? Yes. Was it a bad joke? Yeah.' I'm told that even some at the BBC have “no idea” what to make of this, and that the couple's PR campaign to downplay the incident has also attracted attention. One insider said: “The BBC likes to use the old saying: 'never complain, never explain', so this is very unusual.”
Strictly speaking, sources tell me that rather than wait out the storm, it was Katya and Wynne's joint decision to go out and fight, even if it means exacerbating media attention.
So why did Katya decide to go on the offensive? After all, it was Wynne who made the allegedly inappropriate move.
“Katya adores Wynne,” says a Strictly source. 'He moved to Wales so he could train around his schedule and has spent a lot of time with his family. He's even helping her find a boyfriend because, despite being so stunning, she's been single practically since she split from Neil.
'They have also been enjoying nights out together. Katya met his children and his girlfriend and went to his house for dinner.
'But what she is so proud of are her routines and how she has taught Wynne to dance.
'She is without a doubt Strictly's best choreographer and that's what she loves most about being on the show.
“For that to be affected by something in the show is devastating for her.”
I'm told there is some anger among the Strictly production team at the BBC who say the episode “is the last thing” they needed after the row between Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington which has left a dark cloud over their current series of the 20th anniversary.
They had hoped that this year everything would go smoothly, a true celebration of dancing.
Although Katya is not to blame, the corporation did not deny reports that Katya and Wynne were “rapped over the knuckles” by the saga.
However, the BBC made sure its social care team checked with each of the pair to confirm nothing was going on, and training room researchers have kept meticulous records of what happens during rehearsals between each pair. from celebrities, including Wynne and Katya.
Eyebrows were raised last night when Katya and Wynne hired an independent disaster PR from the BBC, sparking rumors that they may not be singing from the same hymn as the corporation.
I was told that Katya is “sad” because the program is being overshadowed by what happened. But she has always insisted that she blocks criticism as much as she can.
When I interviewed Katya two years ago (I wasn't allowed to ask about the Seann incident), she told me that she had done her best to ignore the noise around her.
Following a trip to the pub after training in 2018, Katya and her then-Strictly partner, comedian Seann Walsh, were caught by paparazzi kissing in an alleyway.
She told me: 'The first day I joined Strictly, I told myself I wouldn't allow myself to change or care about people's opinions. I will always be authentic to myself and have maintained that.
'It's the only reason I've been able to do my job, how I can continue to be the person I am while being in the public eye. And have friends and good relationships with people. I have my ethics and I maintain it. I would like to think that this is achieved. People who know me know who I am.
The Russian siren, full name Ekaterina Andreevna Sokolova, who joined the hit Saturday night show in 2016, quickly became a fan favorite, particularly among the show's many male admirers. However, her time on Strictly has not been easy. From the beginning, Katya's dance partners have been in the news. He first appeared on the floor with former Education Secretary Ed Balls, who quickly became known for his awkward moves. Still, the couple captivated viewers and Katya earned a reputation as a dedicated teacher.
His next celebrity couple proved even more successful. Katya won the 2017 series with Holby Metropolis actor Joe McFadden, but soon found herself at the center of controversy with Seann Walsh.
At the time of the Walsh scandal, Katya was married to fellow strictly professional dancer Neil Jones.
Still, the Beeb gave Katya a pioneering role in 2020 when she became the first professional to dance in a same-sex partnership, alongside Olympic boxer Nicola Adams. The Beeb had high hopes for the pair, but their journey was cut short in Week 3 when Katya tested positive for Covid, forcing them to leave the competition early.
Next up was Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty. Handsome, muscular and a national heartthrob, his pairing with her led to many conversations about the possibility of Katya taking on another attractive male partner. Lo and behold, in Week 4 viewers were stunned when they appeared to almost kiss during their spicy Argentine tango on live TV, even while his then-girlfriend watched.
In 2022 it was the turn of former England and Arsenal footballer Tony Adams, who admitted he was not a ballroom dancer and struggled with his routines despite Katya's best efforts.
Despite their friendship, tension boiled over in Week 7, when fans saw the duo having what appeared to be a heated exchange on live television. Tony had failed during their salsa routine, leaving them at the bottom of the rankings, and accused Katya of being “too critical.” A week later, a hamstring injury forced Tony to withdraw from the show.
And just last year, Katya was inadvertently involved in another dispute when she was partnered with actor Nigel Harman. After receiving disappointing feedback following a high-stakes performance in Blackpool, Nigel reportedly had a public row with his wife, Lucy Liemann, leaving audience members stunned. Katya was later seen comforting her partner, but in week 11, Nigel quit due to a rib injury.
But back to Katya and Wynne. The BBC hopes this weekend's show goes ahead as planned, with the pair performing a quick step to Mr Blue Sky by the Electrical Gentle Orchestra. But some on the show fear this may be a drama too far for Katya.
A source tells me: 'She's really been through it, and every time there's another saga, she brings back the Seann episode and haunts it.
'Katya is tough and determined, she has been through worse situations than Wynne. Just hope it all happens soon.
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