Strictly Come Dancing star Nigel Harman is said to have ‘clicked instantly’ with Katya Jones

Katya, for her part, is said to be focusing on the competition and ignoring the noise. “She’s pouring everything into her routines,” one crew member shared. “If anything, this has just made her more determined to prove herself on the dance floor. She wants the public to see her as the brilliant professional she is — not as tabloid fodder.”

The BBC has not commented publicly on the alleged messages, but sources say that producers have quietly reminded all cast members of the show’s code of conduct and social media guidelines. “It’s just a precaution,” one source explained. “After what happened in previous years, they’re being extra careful.”

Friends of the celebrity linked to Katya have also spoken out, saying that the connection between the two has been “completely innocent.” One insider close to the star said, “They get on really well, but there’s absolutely nothing romantic going on. They’ve been texting about dance moves, ideas, and costume fittings. People are reading way too much into it.”

Katya herself addressed the speculation indirectly in a cryptic Instagram post on Thursday night, sharing a photo of herself rehearsing in the studio with the caption: “Work hard, stay kind, and keep dancing — that’s all that matters.” Fans flooded the comments with supportive messages, urging her to “keep her head high” and “rise above the drama.”

View 2 Images

Strictly Come Dancing’s Lewis Cope and Katya Jones(Image: BBC)

Nigel Harman has revealed he sent messages to dance partner Katya Jones at 2am whilst competing on Strictly Come Dancing.

The duo were paired together in 2023 until Nigel was forced to pull out of the competition due to an injury.

While he was taking part in the hit BBC show, former EastEnders and Downton Abbey star, Nigel said his professional partner had become an honorary member of his family.

He admitted to occasionally messaging Katya during the early hours when sleep eluded him.

This latest scandal has once again thrust Katya into the media spotlight — something she knows all too well. Fans will remember her infamous 2018 controversy, when she was photographed kissing her then-celebrity partner Seann Walsh during the series, despite both being in relationships at the time.

The incident caused a media frenzy, leading to public apologies and ultimately contributing to the end of her marriage to fellow Strictly professional Neil Jones.

Since then, Katya has worked hard to rebuild her public image, focusing on her dancing, mentoring, and advocacy work. She’s spoken candidly about the lessons she learned from that time, saying in past interviews that she’s “a completely different person now” and that her focus is solely on her career. “I’ve grown so much since then,” she said last year. “People make mistakes — but I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”

Those close to Jones are rallying around her, describing her as “heartbroken” that another misunderstanding is threatening to overshadow her professional achievements.

“Katya’s one of the most passionate and dedicated dancers on the show,” a friend said. “She eats, sleeps, and breathes Strictly.V To see her name dragged through the mud again is devastating for her.”

Producers, meanwhile, are said to be urging calm among the cast while privately emphasizing the importance of maintaining professionalism on and off camera. “Strictly thrives on chemistry between partners, but there’s a fine line between connection and controversy,” an insider explained.

“The BBC wants to avoid anything that could undermine the show’s family-friendly image, especially this close to the live finals.”

Nigel explained: “Towards the weekend, I always wake up at about two in the morning, in the middle of the dance routine… always on a Friday night”, reports the Manchester Evening News.

“And it’s (as) you know, we all wake up in the morning when we’re in our REM sleeps and… (after those) four hour-ish cycles, and it’s when that happens that I’m deep in the middle of a dance and I can’t get back to sleep for about half an hour.

View 2 Images

Nigel and Katya were partnered on Strictly(Image: BBC)

“So basically, I lay there dancing through my dance a few times until my body goes, ‘Okay. You still remember it, it’s okay’. Then I go back to sleep. So that’s the thing because really all I wanted to do is sleep for all the time when I’m not dancing.”

Katya admitted that Nigel has messaged her “a couple of times” seeking reassurance about their choreography, enabling him to settle back into slumber after nocturnal wake-ups. However, Nigel emphasised he didn’t suffer anxiety dreams about the panel’s marks because “that’s their business. I can’t influence that. I just dance.”

Nigel and Katya are reported to have formed an immediate bond from their very first pairing on Strictly – which represents the “secret to their success”. Speaking on behalf of Betfair Bingo, body language specialist Darren Stanton commented: “Nigel and Katya never fail to wow the judges, showing how hard they work together.

“It’s clear they have become so tight and connected each week, and it will only develop further. They would have to do something pretty catastrophic to fall behind now. It’s guaranteed they will be in the final, and I can see them winning.”

Strictly Come Dancing has once again found itself in the center of a media storm after professional dancer Katya Jones was reportedly caught up in a late-night texting scandal involving one of this season’s celebrity contestants.

The 35-year-old ballroom star, known for her fiery personality and dazzling performances, is said to have exchanged “secret 2 a.m. messages” with the unnamed celebrity, sparking intense speculation and concern behind the scenes at the hit BBC show.

According to insiders close to the production, the texts came to light earlier this week after whispers began circulating among crew members and fellow contestants. “People noticed Katya seemed unusually close to one of the celebs,” a source revealed.

“They’ve built up a really friendly bond — maybe too friendly. When word got out about messages being exchanged in the early hours, it set off alarm bells. Everyone knows how these things can blow up on Strictly.”

The revelation has reportedly sent shockwaves through the show’s tight-knit cast, many of whom are still reeling from past controversies. The BBC is said to be taking the situation seriously, with producers quietly monitoring the situation to ensure the integrity of the program remains intact.

“Strictly has had its fair share of drama over the years,” another insider admitted. “The last thing they want is another headline about inappropriate relationships or behind-the-scenes flirtations. Everyone’s walking on eggshells right now.”

Katya Jones, however, has strongly denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the messages have been blown completely out of proportion. “It’s not what you think!” she reportedly told friends after the story began circulating online.

“We were just chatting about the routine — that’s it. We’ve been working late on choreography and sometimes that means sending messages at odd hours. There’s nothing secret or scandalous about it.”

In a brief statement released through her representative, Jones reiterated that the rumors are “hurtful and misleading.” “Katya is a consummate professional,” the spokesperson said. “She takes her work and her relationships with her dance partners very seriously. Any suggestion of impropriety is categorically false.”

Despite her denials, the speculation has intensified as tabloids race to uncover the identity of the celebrity at the center of the alleged exchange. Online forums have been flooded with theories, with fans dissecting every backstage clip and social media interaction for potential clues. “It’s like a detective game for Strictly fans,” one viewer joked on Twitter. “Who’s been texting Katya at 2 a.m.? Everyone’s got their theories.”

As the rumors continue to swirl, social media has been divided between those defending Katya and those questioning her judgment. “She deserves the benefit of the doubt,” one fan wrote. “People love to jump to conclusions.” Others were less sympathetic, pointing out her past headline-making behavior. “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” another user commented. “This isn’t the first time her name’s been involved in something like this.”

While the truth behind the late-night messages remains unclear, one thing is certain — the story has reignited the ongoing conversation about the pressures of fame, scrutiny, and personal boundaries in the world of Strictly Come Dancing. For Katya Jones, who has spent years rebuilding her reputation, this latest controversy is an unwelcome reminder of how quickly perception can shift in the glare of the public eye.

Still, if her past resilience is anything to go by, it’s unlikely this episode will derail her for long. As one former Strictly colleague put it, “Katya’s been through worse and come out stronger. She knows how to handle the heat — and she’ll dance her way through this, too.”

He added: “Their body language hasn’t seen any shifts, it’s been pretty consistent and developed each week. They mirror one another and have incredible eye contact – it suggests they are two people who have clicked instantly. That’s been the secret to their success. When they’re dancing or talking with each other, it’s obvious they know each other inside and out.”