STRICTLY Come Dancing pro Katya Jones has spoken out just days after show bosses confirmed the dancers leaving in its bloodbath cull.
Russian Katya, 36, was spared the axe after a major show revamp saw five beloved pro dancers get the chop from the BBC reality show.
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Strictly’s Katya Jones celebrated the confirmation of her return to the show Credit: Instagram/katyajones
The Strictly dance pro first joined the show in 2016 Credit: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston
Posing in a lace corset, black shorts and lacy tights, Katya broke her silence after it was confirmed she would be returning this year.
She wrote on Instagram: “See you in September. Back on @bbcstrictly . To give all of you a reason to smile, bring families together, to offer something joyful to carry us through the winter. Shall we dance?”
Katya’s fans raced to celebrate her happy news in the comments section of the post.
“Can’t wait to see you for another series!!” wrote one excited fan.
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Michelle Tsiakkas was one of five pros axed in a massive cull Credit: PA
As was fan favourite Karen Hauer Credit: BBC
Another added: “I’m SO glad you’re back for another series, you’re my favourite pro.”
And a third wrote: “Can’t wait to see you back and thriving as always!”
Katya made her debut on the show with Ed Balls in 2016. She won the following year with Joe McFadden but hasn’t matched those heights since.
In 2020, she made history by dancing with Nicola Adams as the first same sex pairing in the show’s history.
Ukrainian beauty Nadiya Bychkova was also given the chop Credit: BBC
But Jowita Przystal will also be returning Credit: BBC
The Jattvibe was first to reveal that the show was undergoing a mass overhaul, following the departure of hosts Tess Daly, 57, and Claudia Winkleman, 54.
Those who WON’T be back on the dancefloor this year are Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, Karen Hauer, 43, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Luba Mushtuk, 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35.
All four of the programme’s judges have been confirmed to return as well as fan-favourite theme weeks on the dancing show.
Movies, Icons, Halloween and Musicals week will all be back alongside the Instant Dance challenge following its high-energy debut in 2025.
Carlos Gu who won with Karen Carney last year will be coming back to Strictly Credit: PA
But Katya will be hoping to better this year after placing sixth with Lewis Cope Credit: PA
The rest of the lucky pro dancers who have also been spared from the Strictly cull are Jowita Przystal, 31, Kai Widdrington, 30, Aljaž Škorjanec, 36, Lauren Oakley, 35, Nancy Xu, 34, Neil Jones, 43, Nikita Kuzmin, 28, Alexis Warr, 25, and Vito Coppola, 33, who are all returning for the 2026 series.
However, these won’t be the only pros on the programme with the BBC also revealing that a string of new pros will also be joining the programme.
Also returning to the smash hit BBC series this year are fan favourites like Dianne Buswell, 36, Amy Dowden, 35, Johannes Radebe, 38, and last year’s winner Carlos Gu, 33, who scooped the coveted Gliterball Trophy with footballer Karen Carney.
The Jattvibe revealed how Australian hunk Julian Caillon, 30, will be coming back for the 24th series, and this has now been confirmed by the Beeb
