Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones has reportedly not been paired with a celebrity for the upcoming series, in what would be the seventh time in his ten years on the BBC dance competition.
Jones, who is said to be “gutted” by the decision, joined Strictly in 2016. His most recent celebrity partner was singer Toyah Willcox in 2024, but the pair were eliminated after just two weeks.
The dancer is also expected to join the other professionals on the bench after reportedly suffering an injury during rehearsals this month. He is said to have missed several pre-recorded group dances as a result.
An unnamed source said Jones remained “a much-loved and valued member of the cast”, but added that “not all the pros can get a partner”.
“Bosses love him because of his jokey personality, so expect to see him on set as much as possible,” the source said.
Jones’s reported absence from the celebrity line-up comes as Strictly faces fresh claims that a number of this year’s contestants have previous dance or performing arts experience.
Reports have claimed that nine of the 15 celebrities have some form of past experience, including Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, who attended the Dance School of Scotland before studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Love Island winner Cach Mercer previously worked as a professional dancer specialising in hip-hop and Afrobeats, while Dani Dyer described herself as a “qualified dancer” in her 2019 autobiography.
Other contestants reported to have performing arts backgrounds include EastEnders star Lacey Turner, singer Delta Goodrem, actor Jaime Winstone and House of the Dragon star Bethany Antonia.
An insider said there was no rule preventing celebrities with dance experience from taking part, arguing that it would be “near impossible” to assemble a cast with no previous experience because many people in the entertainment industry attend stage school.
The BBC has been approached for comment on Jones’s reported pairing and injury.
