Strictly's Katya Jones gives major love update as she shares baby dreams

When it comes to finding love, Strictly Come Dancing star Katya Jones is an eternal optimist. The Russian star still hopes to waltz off with the man of her dreams… and become a mum.

Katya, 36, says: “I might meet somebody today. You get up and you never know who you might meet. I’ve got to look nice… I’m always ready and open.” But the dancer thinks some men may be too scared to approach her.

During her 10 years on the hit BBC show, Katya has made headlines both and off the dancefloor. It comes as former Strictly stars Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones split as he joins a notorious dating app on a lads' holiday.

READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing's Wynne Evans splits from fiancée weeks after proposing

READ MORE: Strictly's Anton Du Beke reveals traumatic childhood where he was stabbed by his dad

In 2017, Katya lifted the famous Glitterball trophy when she won the series with Holby City actor Joe McFadden. And three years later, she made history when she was paired with boxer Nicola Adams, becoming the first same-sex couple to ever compete in the show.

But she has had her fair share of scandal, too. Last year, a“private joke” with her opera singer partner Wynne Evans backfired. And in 2018, Katya was pictured kissing her dance partner, comedian Seann Walsh, in the street.

The clinch – which came after a boozy afternoon – ended her six-year marriage to fellow Strictly dancer Neil Jones and also wrecked Seann’s relationship with his then-girlfriend. Katya has said of the kiss: “I wasn’t thinking and it was a one-off mistake after drinks.”

Since then, the dancer has been linked to ­property mogul and former footballer William Abbotts. The pair were said to have enjoyed a few dates in 2023 before calling it a day.

Katya now believes men are too shy to even talk to her, let alone embark on a relationship. She says: “Us women have fought to be so independent and strong and do our own thing, that it might send confusing messaging to them, like, ‘Can I approach or can I not?’ So, I totally understand why they’re being hesitant sometimes, but I’m open and ready to be approached.”

Despite being on dating apps, including the A-list favourite Raya, Katya is yet to strike gold – but she is still hopeful her Prince Charming will sweep her off her feet. Inspired by her good friend and It Takes Two host Janette Manrara, who welcomed daughter Lyra with fellow Strictly dancer Aljaz Škorjanec in 2023, Katya says she would love to start a family one day.

“I would like to have kids with someone who I believe could be a good father but I’ve got nieces I can spend my energy on right now, or some of my friends’ children, like Janette. Seeing how she does everything and is a mother as well is really inspiring. It just shows that you can do it all if you put your mind to it.”

Hearing about women who have frozen their eggs so they can have children in later life is food for thought for Katya. She says: “I’ve spoken to women who have done it… I didn’t hear about it until two years ago, which is quite surprising really. However, I still have faith in meeting someone naturally. That would be lovely.”

Katya is still good friends with her ex Neil, 43, who is dad to daughter Havana with his fiancee, former Love Islander Chyna Mills. Neil and Katya often work closely together on Strictly – and even share their dogs. Katya says of the arrangement: “They had them for some time. Now it’s my turn.

"We’re absolutely still on good terms. We knew each other since we were 18 and started dancing. We lived a life together… it was me and him against the world, chasing our dreams. We were the only people there for each other so of course there is a much more profound connection there. You can’t just throw that away.”

Katya, who grew up in Saint Petersburg, started dancing when she was just six years old. She was encouraged to reach for the stars by her mum and dad, Tatiana and Andrey, so trained in both ballroom and Latin, as well as gymnastics.

Katya has now thrown herself back into rehearsals for Strictly and the upcoming series will be her 10th. Looking ahead to this year’s show, Katya says: “I’ve done it for 10 years and had all sorts of characters. I’d like to think that I’ve done it well. So, whoever I get, I am just there to give them a great time.”

Katya has also recently returned from Belgium, where she was a judge on Dancing with the Stars. She says: “I’ve been in this [industry] for so long… I’ve been on one side as a choreographer, as a creative and a professional dancer. I’ve stood there being criticised and I feel like my past experience with Neil as well – being world champions – I’ve got all the credentials to fall back now. I know what they are going through.”

As she gets ready to return to the dancefloor once again, Katya says that she is currently in the best shape of her life and is embracing being in her 30s. “I’ve loved my years after 30,” she says. “Now I feel the most fit and the most healthy. It’s only now that I can do the splits in my 30s. I had to give up gymnastics when I was little because I was so inflexible but with consistency, I’m finding things that I love and enjoy doing.

“I’m into my padel [a racquet sport] and boxing. I love movement so I’m feeling on top of the world, to be honest.”

*Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC1 in September

Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads .