'Heartbroken' Katya Jones Considered Leaving 'Strictly Come Dancing' After Lewis Cope's Elimination

Katya Jones has revealed that she came close to quitting 'Strictly Come Dancing' after being left 'heartbroken' by her shock elimination alongside actor Lewis Cope last year.

The professional dancer admitted she questioned whether she could face returning to the BBC ballroom competition after the pair were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2025 series, despite being considered strong contenders for the title.

Katya Jones Opens up About Heartbreaking 'Strictly' Exit

Speaking about the disappointment, Jones explained that the pressure surrounding the competition and the expectation that they would progress further made their exit particularly difficult to accept.

'Every time I ask myself, and if the answer is still yes, I'll be here doing it. And I must say, last year I was very heartbroken,' she said. 'So there was a lot of doubt, like, "Can I face it again?"'

Jones and Cope had impressed viewers throughout the 2025 series, with many expecting them to reach the semi-finals and potentially compete in the final. However, their journey came to an abrupt end in the quarter-finals after they found themselves in the dreaded dance-off against 'Love Island' star Amber Davies and professional dancer Nikita Kuzmin.

The result came as a surprise to fans, particularly given the pair's strong performances and growing popularity during the competition. Jones later struggled to hide her emotions while discussing their departure on the show's spin-off programme, 'It Takes Two'. The dancer became tearful as she reflected on whether she could have done more to help her celebrity partner.

'Looking back, obviously, I can't help but think I could have done things differently to make things better for him,' she said at the time. Cope, who appeared visibly supportive of his partner, reassured her that she had done everything she could.

Jones also suggested that the pair had faced considerable pressure to deliver exceptional performances every week, explaining that they were expected to produce almost perfect, show-stopping routines each Saturday. She admitted that the high expectations had contributed to the disappointment when their competition ended earlier than anticipated.

'I guess our expectation was so high and not even from us, externally, you kind of see yourself getting all the way there,' Jones explained. 'And then to have had it cut short was a little bit tough.'

Why Katya Jones Decided To Return

Despite her doubts, Jones ultimately returned for the 2026 series, marking another year as one of the programme's professional dancers. She is now partnered with YouTube personality John Nellis, whose debut performance with Jones earned the pair 31 points out of 40 from the judges.

Their foxtrot to Alex Warren's 'Ordinary' impressed the panel, with Anton Du Beke describing the performance as 'extraordinary'. The pair also topped the leaderboard during the opening week of the competition.

Jones has said that continuing to work on the show depends on maintaining a genuine love for dancing and the experience she provides to her celebrity partners. She explained that she regularly questions whether she is ready to take on the demanding schedule, but remains committed while that passion is still there.

The dancer has also reflected on the wider impact of the programme, saying that the experience goes beyond the professional dancers and celebrities themselves. For Jones, helping viewers find something enjoyable to watch during the winter months is part of what makes the competition worthwhile.

Katya Jones Says She Will Leave When She Stops Loving 'Strictly'

After more than a decade on the programme, Jones has become a familiar face to 'Strictly Come Dancing' audiences. However, she has made clear that she does not intend to remain on the show simply for the sake of it. 'The moment I don't love it is the moment I walk away,' she said.

Her comments suggest that, while last year's elimination left her questioning her future, her return has renewed her enthusiasm for the competition. With Nellis enjoying a promising start to the 2026 series, Jones will now be hoping to put the disappointment of last year behind her and see how far the pair can progress.

For the dancer, the experience has been a reminder of how emotionally demanding 'Strictly Come Dancing' can be, and why a genuine passion for the show remains essential.