Strictly’s Katya Jones addresses ‘cheating’ claims with three-word response

Strictly Come Dancing’s Katya Jones has addressed ‘cheating’ allegations after fans spotted what they claimed was a ‘secret signal’

Katya and Lewis appeared on BBC The One Show on Tuesday (December 2) night

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Katya and Lewis appeared on BBC The One Show on Tuesday (December 2) night(Image: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones has addressed accusations of “cheating” after viewers claimed she gave her celebrity partner a “secret signal” during the show.

The allegations arose following Saturday’s (November 29) live episode, which featured a new segment called the Instant Dance Challenge. The format required celebrities to learn the dance style, song and costume mere minutes before taking to the floor.

Contestants had to rush backstage to change, with no opportunity to rehearse their routine. According to the rules, they were permitted just ten seconds to plan their performance once positioned on the dance floor.

Katya, 36, and her partner, Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope, 30, performed a challenging Jive, but sharp-eyed viewers suggested the pair had broken the rules by discussing their routine beforehand.

Katya Jones

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Katya Jones has spoken out on “cheating” allegations(Image: BBC)

Footage appeared to show Katya demonstrating a movement with her arm and leg to Lewis whilst they stood on the stairs, reports Wales Online.

However, during an appearance on The One Show on Tuesday (December 2) evening with hosts Alex Jones and Lauren Laverne, alongside partner Lewis, Katya addressed the controversy with a brief three-word statement, insisting: “It was fate”.

Alex wasted no time in raising the subject, asking: “The Instant Dance Challenge that happened on Saturday. None of us have ever seen that before so how was it for you?”

Lewis responded: “For me personally it was more exciting than doing the main dance because anything could happen it was brilliant TV and it was really fun.”

Strictly Come Dancing's Lewis Cope and Katya Jones

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

Katya interjected, stating: “Well it’s never happened on Strictly before so none of us knew how it was going to go down. It was fate, they couldn’t tell us what song and dance we were doing so it was a little bit messy.

“On the night, me and Nikita [Kuzmin] were talking and said I have not experienced an overwhelming joy from dancing like that for a very long time.”

She continued: “It’s a huge testament to the celebrities who have been learning for all these weeks and finally demonstrating on the spot that they can dance on the spot as our equal partners. It was really wonderful.”

In a touching moment, Lewis confessed: “I don’t think I was quite ready for how much joy dancing was going to bring to me and not just the performing but the rest of my life.

“I can’t really imagine my life without dancing. It has changed my life massively and it’s got me buzzing.”