Katya Jones has announced a significant new career move away from Strictly Come Dancing. The professional dancer, who joined the BBC dance competition in 2016, has teased a new project, fuelling rumours that she is set to exit the long-running show. Katya is set to return for the 2025 series, but it has not been confirmed if she will get paired with a celebrity partner.

The Russian dancer was partnered with Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans last year and threw her support behind him when he stepped down from the Strictly Live! Tour after it emerged that he had made a comment that was deemed sexually inappropriate. Announcing her new career move, Katya said on Instagram, "I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be joining ‘Dancing with the Stars Belgium’ as a judge!

"It’s time to bring my passion and knowledge to the panel and celebrate the art of dance that unites us all, celebrates diversity, and brings people together. Teach me some Flemish words that I can use on the show?”

The Belgian programme is the sister show to the original Strictly Come Dancing series. Fellow professional dancer Gorka Marquez served as a judge on the Spanish version, "Bailando con las Estrellas" last year.

One fan couldn't help but ask if Katya was staying on Strictly Come Dancing in the comments section, saying, "I hope this doesn't mean you're leaving Strictly in the UK?"

A second person also commented, "You will be brilliant, but i hope you don’t leave us and that one day you will be a judge here in the uk too." A third also typed, "I hope you are NOT leaving strictly please."

Earlier this year, Katya supported her dancing partner Wynne Evans after he stepped down from the Strictly Come Dancing live tour after he made a crude remark during a photo call.

She took to social media to ask people to show "humanity and consideration" for the opera singer and admitted she is missing Wynne as the tour continues without him. Sharing a clip of Wynne cracking a joke at one of the shows, she added: "Really missed this tonight."

Katya was previously married to fellow professional dancer Neil Jones, but the pair called it quits in 2019 after six years of marriage. Neil has since welcomed a baby daughter with his fianceé, Chyna Mills, in 2023.