STRICTLY’S Lewis Cope and Katya Jones have broken their silence on cheating claims after they were accused of breaking a show rule.

The pair danced a tricky Jive in the Instant Dance challenge during Saturday night’s live show – but fans were left disgruntled.
Katya Jones and Lewis Cope came under fire on Saturday nightCredit: PA
Katya was accused of cheating whilst waiting to do her first Instant Dance ChallengeCredit: BBC
The pair were given 10 seconds to prepare to perform a jive in front of the show’s live audienceCredit: BBC
Some viewers claimed the pro-dancer, 36, was instructing Lewis, 30, during

the challenge, which saw couples given just ten seconds on the dancefloor to discuss their routine before performing,

The incident refers to a moment where Katya Jones and Lewis were stood on the stairs ahead of the Jive, where, it is claimed, Katya recreated a move with her arm and leg to Lewis.

The celebs and pros had been required to stand separately ahead of the dance in order to prevent them from communicating with each other.

But Katya appeared to lift her leg to the side – which was the move they ended the dance with.

However, she has now broken her silence on this, and during a chat with host Claudia Winkleman explained what happened.

Katya has now said that she told Lewis if he saw her do that positioning with her leg then he needed to jump through it.

However, after they performed the dance, ticked off fans went straight to social media to voice their criticism.

One wrote on X: “No conferring till the ten seconds yet Katya does this to indicate to Lewis to jump through her leg like on

Blackpool night I’m sorry but that is cheating in the instant dance plain and simple #StrictlyComeDancing.”

Another said: “Katya & Lewis SO had that final move ready to go *whatever* dance they were given……. #Strictly.”

While one chimed: “So much for the professionals not talking to celeb before the 10 seconds.

“Katya showed Lewis the leg move to do whilst on stairs and Nikita and Amber were shouting across stairs to each other before Karen danced. Surely that’s breaking the rules of this challenge. #strictly.”

Despite the claims, the dancing duo received support from others, who dismissed the cheating allegations, with one even describing the claims as “bitter”.

One wrote: “LEWIS AND KATYA DID NOT CHEAT IN THE INSTANT DANCE CHALLENGE!!

“It was never said that the couples couldn’t signal to each other on the stairs!!

“You’re all just bitter that he’s the best dancer and it’s pathetic trying to bring him down like that. #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing.”

While another fan wrote: “‘People are saying they cheated because Katya signalled to Lewis on the stairs about the jump through her legs.

“But that wasn’t even part of the jive, just a bit of fun they did at the very end, and they NEVER said the couples couldn’t signal to each other anyway.”

One voiced: “if i see one more comment like this about Lewis and Katya – THEY ALL REUSED ELEMENTS OF THEIR OLD DANCES that is literally the point.”
The apir have proved to be one of the strongest couplesCredit: PA
The BBC declined to comment when approached by The Sun at the weekend.

Viewers were left baffled by the “chaotic” first ever Instant Dance challenge, which saw judges swapping seats.

Fans seemed to enjoy the spontaneous nature of the challenge, and begged to see more similar moments.

One wrote: “This is pure chaos and I love it!”, while another added “This is chaos… do it every week”,

Judges scored Lewis the full six points, Balvinder Sopal with five, Amber Davies with four points, Alex Kingston with three, George Clarke scooped two and Karen Carney last with just one point.
The pair finished the challenge in first place, securing the maximum six points from judgesCredit: BBC

Stacey Rusch Clarifies Her Living Situation With Thiemo Rusch liennhi

The Real Housewives of Potomac

‘s Stacey Rusch is taking her reconciliation with Thiemo Rusch one day at a time, and there’s still one major step they’ve yet to make: moving back in together.

As Stacey and Thiemo hosted a homemade pizza night for their 9-year-old daughter, Arabella Rusch, during Season 10, Episode 9, a producer asked her point-blank if her ex-husband was “living in the house” with her.

Stacey’s response? “No, but he’s spending a lot of time at the house.”

She further explained that Arabella was at the center of their slow approach to merging their lives once again after finalizing their divorce in late 2024.

“We aren’t putting any labels on anything,” Stacey elaborated in a confessional. “We don’t want to confuse her. We just told her that we got a divorce. Like, we can’t be like, ‘We’re back together.’ Like, we can’t do that. We’re the adults. Adults lead.”

Inside Stacey and Thiemo Rusch’s family night on RHOP

On the heels of intense drama at Gizelle Bryant’s

Reasonably Shady event, the family meal was a welcome distraction for Stacey.

“Thank God I have people who love me and support me,” she declared. “As I walk out of that party and out of that negativity, I’m walking into everything that sustains me as a mother and a wife at home.”

Referencing rumors about her relationship with Monique Samuels’ ex-husband, Chris Samuels, Stacey added, “I am thinking about pizza night back at home with my husband — and not on a date with anybody else’s husband, OK?”

Amidst some playful banter, Stacey stole a kiss from Thiemo outdoors by the grill when Arabella was occupied in the kitchen. When they all sat down to enjoy the pizzas they’d made afterward, Stacey remarked, “So, it’s us three,” to which her daughter excitedly replied, “Forever!”

“Is that what you want it to be: us three forever?” Stacey asked her daughter, who adorably answered, “Yes. I’m OK if I have a babysitter though.”

They also discussed Stacey’s cannabis brand, Shayo, and Arabella chimed in that she thought it was “really cool” that her mom had a “gummy bear brand.”

“Arabella doesn’t necessarily understand cannabis, but she understands that Mommy has a line of gummies that are helping people to feel happy and joyous,” Stacey clarified.

The dinner ended with Arabella sweetly raising a glass to her mother and her latest career venture.

After filming wrapped on RHOP Season 10, Stacey shared an update on where she and Thiemo stand now in an exclusive interview with

The Daily Dish.

“Having been divorced, coming back together, things are kind of spicy all the time now,” she quipped. “‘Cause we’re happy to be back together. But I think that my definition of spicy may be a little different than the ladies.”

Even so, she teased that viewers can still expect to see more relationship “ups and downs” through the back half of the season.

“It’s definitely a blessing, but it is not easy,” she elaborated. “It’ll be really interesting to see our journey.”

One person who won’t be tuning in, however, is Thiemo.

“Thiemo does not watch the show; he is a very busy man,” Stacey added. “I will fill him in on certain things, and we laugh and talk about them. But, no, it’s too much for him. He wants to protect me. And, you know, it’s very difficult for him at times.”