Desperate BBC bosses save Katya Jones as they hand her new Strictly Come Dancing contract after 'bloodbath' of top talent from show

In recent days, Strictly Come Dancing has been in turmoil as one by one professional dancers have been axed from the show.

But Katya Jones has come out on top as she is set to sign a new contract which will mark her 10th anniversary on the glitzy dance competition, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.

BBC bosses were ‘desperate’ to keep the 36-year-old Russian dancer amid the bloodbath because ‘they know how popular she is with viewers.’

One show source told the Daily Mail: ‘She is not leaving, Katya is remaining on Strictly, the bosses think she’s a legend. They know how much viewers love her and they are also in awe of her choreography talents.’

It comes after news broke that long-standing pros Karen Hauer, 43, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Márquez, 35, have been axed from the series, with sources claiming all of the Strictly pros are already aware of their fate.

The current Strictly shake-up comes after hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly quit the series last year. Having made their final appearance in the Christmas special, a search has been underway at the BBC to find new ballroom hosts.

Emma Willis and Zoe Ball are frontrunners, while other names including Alex Jones and Rylan have been thrown in the mix.

Now, sources suggest bosses are aiming for an entirely fresh start following years of criticism and controversy surrounding the professional dancers.

Elsewhere, Neil Jones, 43, who has rarely had a celebrity dance partner on the show, will also go without one this year, as will Nancy Xu, 34.

It's believed they may still appear in the big group dance numbers, while pros such as Nadiya, Gorka, Luba, Michelle, and Karen have been completely dropped from the lineup.

Given Nadiya, Gorka and Luba are all in their mid-thirties, and Karen in her forties, the axings have sparked talk of an ageism row.

It’s no surprise bosses wanted to keep Katya as she is hugely popular with viewers.

She quickly stole the show in her first year with her creative routines and enthusiastic political partner Ed Balls in 2016.

The pair finished in an impressive sixth place, but she topped that in 2017 when she lifted the Glitterball with celeb partner Joe McFadden.

Katya went on to make Strictly history in 2020, being part of the show's first ever same sex partnership with boxer Nicola Adams.

Other celebrity partners include Mike Bushell, Adam Peaty, Tony Adams, and Nigel Harman.

Last year, she was paired with Lewis Cope, and the pair were a fan favourite, particularly after their Halloween dance, which judges said ‘would go down in Strictly history’.

However, Katya has been caught up in her fair share of scandals.

In 2018, the star was in the headlines after she was snapped kissing her celebrity partner Seann Walsh. The dancer, who was married to fellow Strictly pro Neil at the time, was caught kissing the comedian after an evening out.

They both apologised, with Katya calling it a ‘one-off mistake’. ‘I'm so sorry about any offence or hurt I may have caused with my actions,’ she wrote on X, which was Twitter at the time.

‘I wasn't thinking and it was a one-off mistake after some drinks. I love my husband and we are very happy together, this is not a reflection on our relationship.’

Seann, who had a long-term girlfriend, also spoke up, posting on the platform: ‘In light of the story in today's newspaper, I would like to offer my sincere apologies for my actions. This is no excuse but it was a one-off drunken mistake which I am truly sorry for.’

In 2024, she was in the spotlight again when she was paired with GoCompare star Wynne Evans.

The pair had an awkward moment where Katya was seen apparently brushing Wynne's hand from her waist, and she was also thought to have rejected his high five.

However, the stars insisted they were friends and that the high-five moment had been a ‘running joke’ between them. Katya added it was ’complete nonsense’ that Wynne's hand on her waist ‘made me feel uncomfortable or offended me in any way’.

Katya is now gearing up to mark her 10th anniversary on the show and will no doubt be looking to lift the Glitterball trophy to mark the occasion in style.  

When contacted for comment, BBC said that plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be announced in due course.