Since joining Strictly Come Dancing in 2016, Neil Jones has waltzed his way into our hearts, becoming a fan favourite on the iconic show. An unstoppable force, the professional dancer has performed several showstopping routines with partners Alex Scott and Nina Wadia over the years, and while he isn’t part of a pairing right now, we’ve loved watching him perform with the rest of the pros this season.
Want to get to know Neil a little better? We’re taking a closer look at his life away from the ballroom, starting with his dating history. Keep reading for all the details…
Chyna Mills
Neil Jones is currently engaged to Chyna Mills, with whom he shares a baby daughter. Following Chyna’s stint on Love Island, Neil slid into her DMs, and they immediately hit it off. By August 2022, the pair made it official but kept the details of their dating life largely under wraps.
© David Fisher/ShutterstockThey were later spotted attending a number of public events together including the Guardians of the Galaxy experience in London. The loved-up duo were then captured enjoying a romantic getaway in Paris.
After seven months of dating, in April 2023 Neil and Chyna confirmed to HELLO! that they were engaged, and were also expecting their first child together. At the time, Chyna was 13 weeks pregnant.
© Koming DarmawanOpening up about his romantic proposal, Neil told HELLO! that he’d popped the question during a trip to Bali. "I'd already planned to ask Chyna to marry me before we knew she was pregnant. Then we found out and I was like: 'Oh, this is brilliant, everything is coming together.’''
Neil had been secretly planning his holiday proposal while on the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour earlier this year. Speaking about the surprise proposal, Chyna explained: "At first, I thought he was joking because we play jokes on each other all the time. Then Neil was like: 'Chyna, so is it a "yes" or "no"?' because a few minutes had passed and he was still on one knee. I was like: 'Yeah!'"
To the delight of fans, in October 2023, Neil and Chyna then revealed that they had welcomed their bouncing baby girl. Adorably, the couple shared the news with HELLO!, with the Strictly Come Dancing star saying: "Mum and baby are doing really well, she's everything we hoped for and more."
More recently, HELLO! caught up with Neil at the Pride of Britain Awards, and he couldn’t have been happier. When asked how fatherhood has been treating him so far, Neil said: "Brilliant, just brilliant. I'm just smiling all the time, I can't stop it."
MORE: Strictly's Dianne Buswell reveals close bond with Bobby Brazier's 'special' family
READ: Strictly's Neil Jones and fiancée Chyna Mills welcome first baby - see photo
Luisa Eusse
Neil previously dated Colombian dancer Luisa Esse. The pair, who had met in the summer of 2020, had a whirlwind romance that lasted until December of that year. During an interview with HELLO! at the time, the professional dancer recalled that they had moved in together after just two weeks, a decision which was perhaps made too hastily.
© Photo: InstagramAdmitting their relationship had moved very fast, Neil said: "It wasn't the ideal way to form a relationship so quickly. Normally you'd have time to go on dates, meet up with each other and it would build over time. We were just going with the flow."
During their brief romance, Neil and Luisa faced several difficulties after negative newspaper stories surfaced, including reports that Luisa had a one-night stand while living with Neil, and had also been partying during lockdown. While Luisa and Neil were able to make amends, by December the former couple had called it quits.
Katya Jones
Neil exchanged wedding vows with Strictly co-star Katya back in August 2013, and the pair were married for six years before announcing their separation on 18 August 2019.
At the time, they released a joint statement which read: "After 11 years, we have made the mutual decision to separate. We will always love each other, just in a different way as friends. This will never change what a great team we make and we are really proud of everything we have achieved together… No matter what we do we will always support and respect each other. We wish one another every happiness and remain the best of friends."
© Photo: Getty ImagesFollowing their split, Neil has confirmed that the pair are still in a very good place, telling HELLO!: "Katya and I are still really good friends. We’ve been dancing together for 11 years. She's supportive, I’m supportive to her. We’re in a really good place."
Showing her support for Neil, Katya also reacted to the news of his engagement, and exciting baby news with fiancée Chyna. "So happy for these two! @mr_jonesofficial, you deserve all the happiness," she wrote on Instagram.
