Strictly's Katya Jones spotted by viewers mouthing what she really thinks of Emmerdale's Lawrence Robb after camera pans to her after his dance

2 hours ago 12

By CONNIE RUSK, ASSOCIATE SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR

Published: 10:54 BST, 27 September 2026 | Updated: 10:57 BST, 27 September 2026

Katya Jones was caught mouthing what she really thought of Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb during Strictly Come Dancing's first live show on Saturday night.

The camera panned to the professional dancer, 37, on the balcony after Lawrence, 34, performed the Paso Doble to Aperture by Harry Styles with his partner Jowita Przystał.

Eagle-eyed viewers noticed she turned to new pro Aleksandra Isaeva, and mouthed 'fit'.

The comment raised eyebrows from fans who wrote on X: 'Did Katya call Lawrence fit???' while another joked: 'Katya looking for another Strictly dalliance.'

'"He's fit"?' and 'Haha Katya mouthing 'fit' after Lawrence's dance';

Katya Jones was caught mouthing what she she really thought of Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb during Strictly Come Dancing's first live show on Saturday night

The camera panned to the professional dancer, 37, on the balcony after Lawrence, 34, performed the Paso Doble to Aperture by Harry Styles with his partner Jowita Przystał

'What did Katya say?';

'Did anyone see this with Katya after Lawrence';

'Strictly did Katya just mouth "fit"?'.

Lawrence earned 20 points in total, after getting a four from Craig, fives from Motsi and Shirley and a six from Anton.

The actor, who plays Mackenzie Boyd on the soap, is in a relationship with West End performer Pamela Blair.

The couple went public with their romance in 2024 at the BAFTA Scotland Awards.

The first live show of Strictly Come Dancing was full of twists and turns as the viewers finally warmed to the lineup – previously dubbed the 'worst ever' – yet the hosting trio still failed to impress.

YouTuber John Nellis, arguably the least known of the contestants and who doesn't even have a Wikipedia page, blew the audience away with his Foxtrot to Ordinary by Alex Warren.

Paired with the show's longest-serving professional Katya the pair topped the leaderboard with a score of 31 and are now the bookies' favourites to win the show, with Coral giving them odds of 9/4.

Yet while John may have earned himself some new fans, the same couldn't be said for the new hosts.

Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe have received mixed reactions since they took over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who departed the BBC show at the end of the 2025 series.

No doubt with a lot on her mind, Emma joked she was feeling 'nervous' about the live aspect of the show before introducing the judges and contestants to the stage.

It was then revealed that the new format would see Emma and Josh present from the dancefloor as Tess did previously, while Johannes interviewed the stars from the auditorium like Claudia.

However, the decision didn't go down well with viewers, who remarked that Josh looked like a 'spare part' next to seasoned professional Emma.

Eagled-eyed viewers noticed she turned to new pro Aleksandra Isaeva, and mouthed 'fit'

The actor, who plays Mackenzie Boyd on the soap, is in a relationship with West End performer Pamela Blair

During Strictly's first live show YouTuber John Nellis surprisingly topped the leaderboard as viewers finally warmed to the 'worst-ever' lineup (pictured with Katya)

While John may have earned himself some new fans, the same couldn't be said for the new hosts Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe

Josh did, however, earn some praise for making a 'change partners' joke, in a playful throwback to the new musical chairs-style format used to announce the pairs in the launch show.

As Josh stood on the dancefloor looking bemused, Emma, Johannes and judge Craig Revel Horwood appeared alongside him, while Josh wailed 'change partners', leaving viewers in hysterics.

No one will be leaving the show this week, with the scores from week one combined with next week's before the first elimination next Sunday.

STRICTLY COME DANCING 2026: MEET THE CONTESTANTS

LACEY TURNER

AGE: 38

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Stacey Slater on BBC's EastEnders

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I'm so excited and terrified at the same time but I've had so many friends do Strictly and I thought it was about time that I plunked up the courage and made my way onto that dance floor.'

DELTA GOODREM

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Played Nina Tucker in Neighbours and has released eight music albums

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’ve been incredibly honoured to perform on many different stages throughout my career - from tv, theatre, film sets, to touring my own shows around the world, there is however one stage I’ve never stepped onto and that is the ballroom floor!'

CACH MERCER

AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Won Love Island 2025 and is a TikTok influencer

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I have grown up watching the show with my family and am so excited to now be part of the cast. Dancing is a huge passion of mine and I can’t wait to learn Ballroom and do the Foxtrot for the first time!'

DAME SARAH STOREY

AGE: 48

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Britain's most successful Paralympian

WHY STRICTLY?: 'Embarking on a new challenge so soon after stepping down as an athlete is hugely exciting.'

BETHANY ANTONIA

AGE: 28

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Plays Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill.'

GRAEME 'THE DOGFATHER' HALL

AGE: 59

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Channel 5 series Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I have watched the show for years, so to be a part of it feels like a very exciting challenge, albeit more than a bit nerve-wracking!'

TABBY STOECKER

AGE: 25

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Olympic champion skeleton racer

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’ve had the wildest year of my life so far, so to be rounding it off with a childhood dream of dancing in the Strictly ballroom is surreal and I can’t wait to get stuck in!'

MELANIE WALTERS

AGE: 64

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Playing Gwen West in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey

WHY STRICTLY?: 'Performing in Pantomime for the last 15 years, my Strictly ‘fix’ has always been watching in a dressing room rather than my front room.'

DANI DYER

AGE: 30

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Winning Love Island and being the daughter of actor Danny Dyer

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!'

CHRIS APPLETON

AGE: 43

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hairdresser to the stars - including Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’m thrilled to be joining Strictly and coming home to the UK for this incredible experience. I’ve always believed that the best things happen when you take a chance and try something new.'

WILL BEST

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Hosts Big Brother and previously TV

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I’ve been lucky to do lots of live telly before, but absolutely nothing like this. And I cannot wait!'

JAIME WINSTONE

AGE: 41

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Starring in films such as Kidulthood and Tomb Raider

WHY STRICTLY?: 'I am no stranger to a dance floor, but the ballroom is a whole new world for me.'

SHAUN WRIGHT-PHILLIPS

AGE: 44

BEST KNOWN FOR?: Footballer who played for the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City

WHY STRICTLY?: 'Strictly is definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m super excited to get started and really looking forward to the challenge!'