Inside the highs and lows of Katya Jones' Strictly career

Katya Jones is part of the furniture on the BBC favourite Strictly Come Dancing.

The Russian dancer and choreographer, 35, joined the ballroom show in 2016 for its 14th series where she was partnered with the former Shadow chancellor, Ed Balls. 

For the 15th series, Jones partnered the Holby City actor, Joe McFadden, where they were the series winners. 

But her time on the show has not been without difficulty or controversy - making headlines for a 'heated argument' with one ex partner and of course her well-known cheating scandal with Seann Walsh.

And now on the current series of the show it appears there could be tension brewing with her current partner opera singer Wynne Evans.

So here MailOnline takes a look at the highs and lows of Katya's time on Strictly: 

'Tensions' with Wynne Evans

Katya is currently partnered with Wynne but there was an awkward moment between the pair on Saturday night's show - when she was spotted appearing to push his wandering hand off her waist.

During the fourth live show, as host Claudia Winkleman revealed this week's voting lines were open, Wynne, 52, put his arm around Katya only for her to knock his hand away as it moved along her waist.

A second awkward interaction saw the pro dancer appear to shun her celebrity partner's attempts at a high five after Sam Quek and Nikita Kumzin's performance. 

Standing with both hands outstretched, Katya seemed to deliberately turn her back on her partner instead of returning the gesture.   

After eagle-eyed viewers expressed concern on social media, the pair took to Instagram to address the situation.

Addressing fans in a video, Katya began: 'Hello everybody it's Wynne and Katya here. We just wanted to say we were just messing around in the Clauditorium on Saturday night and just want to say sorry. 

'It was a silly joke,' as Wynne added: 'Yes sorry'. 

Wynne then added in the caption: 'Apologies for this tonight we were just messing around. We really are amazing friends. The high 5's is a running joke. Have a great evening @katyajones'.

However, some fans were left unimpressed by the reasoning as only the high-five was addressed in the video.

Replying to the tweet, viewers wrote: 'Sorry guys how is that a joke? Ok the refusal to do the high five and the eye roll, yep get that, but the hand slowly moving across Katya's stomach, and her moving it away and looking seriously uncomfortable?? How is that a 'joke''

'What about the bit where he had wondering hands and you moved them away off your stomach.'

'This is giving 'we need to make this video or the producers will kick us off the show' vibes.'

Strictly fans were left shocked after they first spotted the incident during Saturday night's show. 

The couple have appeared to be getting on brilliantly during training and were third on the leaderboard with their sensational Tango for week four. 

However, it seems tensions could be rising between the pair after fans took to Twitter after spotting awkward moments between the duo.  

Viewers were quick to notice the toe-curling moment as they took to Twitter to share their reactions. 

'Heated argument' with former dance partner

Back in 2022 Tony Adams appeared to be having a 'heated argument' with his professional partner Katya during the closing moments of one of the episodes.

The former footballer, 56, had made a string of mistakes during his Salsa performance earlier in the night, and ended up at the bottom of the leaderboard with Katya at the time admitting she'd shouted at him afterwards.

But it was when hosts Claudia and Tess Daly were wrapping up the show that Tony could be seen speaking animatedly to the pro dancer, who had her back to the camera.

Tony and Katya had been hoping to improve on their highest scores from the week before with a Salsa to 'I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)' by Pitbull.

Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be as the judges had some mixed remarks over the performance.

Craig Revel Horwood simply told the pair: 'It didn't work tonight - it's a shame', while Motsi Mabuse struggled to produce a compliment as she uttered: 'You tried so hard... stuff goes on in life... pick up you crown, go out there and salsa it out!'

With Shirley Ballas trying to stay positive by praising Tony's rotations and 'fearless' lifts, but added it was an 'absolute shame' that he went on the wrong foot and made 'too many mistakes'.

Speaking to Claudia afterwards, Tony said: 'I was too busy having fun!

'The crowd was all up and it was great, then I looked down there and thought, 'Oh sugar, what's going on there?'

'I looked at her face and she went, 'Oh my god,'' with Katya then confessing she furiously shouted 'focus' at the sportsman at the time.

MailOnline contacted representatives for Tony, Katya and the BBC for comment at the time. 

Cheating scandal 

In October 2018 Strictly was caught up in its biggest scandal of all time when Seann Walsh and his pro partner Katya were caught kissing on a night out.

The comedian was in a long-term relationship with Rebecca Humphries at the time while Katya was married to fellow dancer Neil Jones. 

Following the incident, Rebecca released an impassioned statement in which she revealed he called her 'psycho' and 'nuts' for questioning his friendship with Katya, who he kissed on Rebecca's birthday - before the photos were made public.

While Katya was supported by her husband Neil after the 'drunken mistake', their marriage did not last as they announced their split in August 2019.

The dancers confirmed they were splitting in joint Instagram statements, but despite writing they had mutual 'respect' and 'love', a source claimed Katya's infidelity was something her husband couldn't get over.

The pair have remained friends since the split and continue to be professional dancers together on Strictly.

Recalling how he learned their PDA had become public, Seann has previously said: 'I left the wardrobe department and before I could order my first beer, my agent came over to and asked if he could have a word with me outside. 

'I thought 'he is going to tell me I have got Michael McIntyre's Big Show! I had better act surprised!'  

'Turns out, I didn't have to act surprised. We went into the BBC carpark, my agent looked over his glasses and said, 'about 20 minutes ago, they posted a photo of you kissing Katya outside a pub'.

'It was at that exact point that my life would turn upside down - the dream turned into a nightmare.'  

Explaining the incident, he said: 'I was in a relationship, my dance partner Katya was married.

'After training we went for a drink, one thing led to another and we were photographed kissing outside a pub. 

'Awful, I know. It's awful - I'm sorry. I'm still sorry now.'   

He said: 'I was then on the receiving end of thousands of abusive messages online. I did begin to wonder 'have I done something that wrong?'

'Then.... Katie Hopkins tweeted in my defence. Then I thought 'yep, I've f****d up!'' 

'I managed to keep Brexit off the front pages for 12 whole days, but I hated it.'

'I thought 'I just had to get out of here' and I left for America. Just the break I needed. 

Ex dance partner 'storms off stage'

During last year's series another awkward moment occurred with one of Katya's former dance partners Nigel Harman.

He was filmed storming off the dancefloor after receiving a disappointing score for his performance in Blackpool in 2023.

The former EastEnders actor, 50, and Katya's routine to Duke Ellington's It Don't Mean A Thing left them second from bottom of the judges' leaderboard, with a score of 31 points out of 40.

In a video shared to social media, Nigel is seen swiftly exiting the dancefloor, just seconds after the BBC cameras stopped shooting.

Katya appeared confused and briefly stood still before following, while other contestants happily danced and hugged.

The audience member who shared the video to Twitter also wrote: 'Are #Strictly judges proud of themselves? Nigel's been broken tonight, couldn't even face the keep dancing once theme & cameras stopped.

'Taken away someone's love of dance & confidence should not be what show is about.'

MailOnline contacted Nigel's representatives at the time.