Strictly’s Katya Jones has opened up about staying friends with her ex-husband Neil Jones.
The couple explained their decision to remain close came from having “lived a life together.”
The Strictly Come Dancing stars met in Blackpool in 2008 and became dancing partners, going on to become undefeated four-time British National Champions.
In 2013, the couple tied the knot and joined the BBC dance competition three years later in 2016 for series 14.
However, their relationship turned sour in 2018 after Katya was pictured kissing her celebrity dance partner, comedian Seann Walsh.
Katya and Neil inevitably parted ways in August 2019, after six years of marriage, but remained friends and continued dancing together on Strictly.
Katya told The Mirror: “It’s sad that this seems to be unusual [being friends with your ex-husband]. It doesn’t have to be that way does it?”
“Gosh 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 so you can’t just throw that away.”
Neil is now engaged to Love Island star Chyna Mills, and the happy couple welcomed their first child, daughter Havana, in October last year.
Katya revealed she had met his “beautiful” seven-month-old baby and gushed that Neil was a “really good dad.”
She said: “It’s incredible, they are all doing so well, and I love his little girl. I met her when she came on tour. She is beautiful and he is a really good dad.”
Speaking to The Sun, Katya confessed that she is having a difficult time in the dating world.
“I don’t think dating apps are the way to meet people. I’d love for someone to just come up to me and talk and converse and actually connect.”
Before the couple split, Neil opened up about his family plans with Katya, he told MailOnline: “No we never really discussed children. We were busy with the dancing and our careers and things like that.”
However, the twinkle-toed star explained that when he and Chyna met, they “clicked so well” and had baby fever straight after just three months.
He said: “I have got so many nieces and nephews, and then when I met Chyna we clicked so well.”
“And it’s so funny that three months down the line we both got into that conversation about having a child and we said, ‘Yeah, let’s try for it’.”
