Neil Jones reacts to missing out on Strictly partner again

Professional dancer Neil Jones will compete without a celebrity partner for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing, after the pairings were revealed during the launch show on Saturday, September 19. The long-running BBC series returned that evening with new hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe making their debuts, as 15 celebrities learned who they would be dancing with this season. Jones, 44, has been part of the Strictly lineup since 2016 but has received only three celebrity partners across his decade on the show: Alex Scott in 2019, Nina Wadia in 2021 and Toyah Willcox in 2024. His most recent pairing with Willcox lasted just two weeks before the couple was eliminated. This year, he was passed over again as five new professional dancers, Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi, Maddie Ingoldsby and Mark Karmalita, joined the lineup vying to be picked. The dancer responded with humour rather than complaint. In an Instagram video posted during the launch show, Jones was seen holding a pen over a bin, with text stating that if he got the pen in the bin he would get a celebrity partner.