Katya Jones considered quitting Strictly after quarter-final exit

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 11:19 · Archive

Professional dancer Katya Jones admitted she considered leaving Strictly Come Dancing after her elimination last year.

Professional dancer Katya Jones has revealed she seriously considered quitting Strictly Come Dancing after she and actor Lewis Cope were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2025 series. The pair had been frontrunners throughout the competition but fell at what Jones described as 'the final hurdle'.

Jones told the Daily Mail she was 'very heartbroken' by the elimination and had significant doubts about returning. 'Every year, I do question myself, like really think, are you ready for this really intense, really all-consuming thing again and again and again?' she said. 'And I must say, last year I was very heartbroken. So there was a lot of doubt, like, can I face it again?'

Jones added that external expectations had intensified the disappointment. 'I guess our expectation was so high and not even from us, externally, you kind of see yourself getting all the way there. And then to have had it cut short was a little bit tough.' She noted that she questions her commitment to the show every year, but said she will leave the moment she no longer loves it.

How it is being reported

• Katya Jones Seriously Considered Leaving Strictly After Last Year's 'Heartbreak'Long-serving Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones has admitted that she seriously contemplated leaving the show when she and her celebrity partner Lewis Cope missed out on a spot in last year’s final. Katya and Lewis were frontrunners throughout Strictly’s 2025 run , but fell at the final hurdle when they were eliminated after the live quarter-final . At the time, the Russian-born performer made no secret of her shock and heartbreak at not making it further in the contest, telling the Daily Mail this week: “Every year, I do question myself, like really think, ‘Are you ready for…HuffPost UK · 9 Oct, 11:02
• Katya Jones shares 'heartbreaking' reason she almost quit Strictly Come DancingThe dancer admitted she wasn’t sure if she could ‘face’ returning to the dancing competitionEvening Standard · 9 Oct, 10:29

In this story: Katya Jones · Lewis Cope · Strictly Come Dancing · BBC

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