Katya Jones
Katya Jones (born Ekaterina Andreevna Sokolova; ; 12 May 1989) is a Russian dancer, choreographer and environmentalist. She is best known for being a professional dancer on the competition show "Strictly Come Dancing", which she won in 2017 with dance partner Joe McFadden. In the 2020 season, Jones was paired with retired professional and Olympic champion boxer Nicola Adams OBE; they became the first same-sex couple to compete in the history of the UK competition's format. Early life. She was born in Sestroretsk, near Leningrad, Soviet Union and started dancing at the age of six, training in  gymnastics as well as Ballroom and Latin-American dancing. Her father is a senior oil company executive and her Korean mother is a graduate in engineering. Section::::"Strictly Come Dancing". In 2016, Jones became a professional in the BBC ballroom dancing show "Strictly Come Dancing" for its fourteenth series. Jones was partnered with former Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls. For the fifteenth series, Jones partnered "Holby City" actor Joe McFadden and the couple were the series winners. For the sixteenth series Jones partnered comedian Seann Walsh. For the seventeenth series, she was partnered with BBC Sports presenter, Mike Bushell. For the eighteenth  series, she became part of the show's first same-sex couple, with professional boxer Nicola Adams. The couple withdrew from the competition on 12 November, after Jones tested positive for COVID-19. She was partnered with Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty for the nineteenth series. Performances with Ed Balls. She partnered politician Ed Balls for the fourteenth season of "Strictly Come Dancing". Performances with Joe McFadden. She partnered Scottish actor Joe McFadden for the fifteenth season of "Strictly Come Dancing". Performances with Seann Walsh. She partnered comedian and actor Seann Walsh for the sixteenth season of "Strictly Come Dancing". Performances with  Mike Bushell. She partnered television presenter Mike Bushell for the seventeenth season of "Strictly Come Dancing". Performances with Nicola Adams. She partnered boxer Nicola Adams for the eighteenth season of "Strictly Come Dancing". The couple had to leave the competition after week 3 after Katya tested positive for COVID-19. Performances with Adam Peaty. From September 2021 Jones was a contestant on the nineteenth series of "Strictly Come Dancing", partnered Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty.The couple reached week 7, coming 9th. Tour. Katya took part in the national "Strictly Come Dancing - The Live Tour" in 2017. In 2021 it was announced  Katya would be appearing with Neil Jones at Donahey's Dancing with The Stars Weekends in 2022. Other TV Appearances. In 2021, Katya appeared on CBBC’s Saturday Mash Up where she was ‘super slimed’, getting covered in 20 buckets of gunge after being voted by the viewers. In March 2022, Katya appeared on the show again and was gunged for a second time, in what was described as one of the biggest super slimes ever. Stage performances. Jones starred in dance show "Somnium: A Dancer's Dream", directed and choreographed by Neil Jones. The show was performed from 20–22  June 2019 at Sadler's Wells Theatre. Personal life. Jones married her boyfriend of five years, Neil Jones, a dancer and fellow cast member of "Strictly Come Dancing", on 3 August 2013. In October 2018 a video and photos of Jones kissing her celebrity "Strictly" partner Seann Walsh were published. On 18 August 2019 Jones and her husband announced that they had separated.