Katya Jones has reflected on the furore which followed THAT kiss with her Strictly celeb partner Seann Walsh, saying the attention which followed was ‘mental’.
The professional dancer, 31, was caught locking lips with the comedian, 35, after a night out in London back in October 2018.
Speaking with The Sun, Katya said: ‘Of course certain things made it hell, all the attention – and I think for two weeks Brexit was forgotten!
‘It was mental’: Katya Jones has reflected on the furore which followed THAT kiss with her Strictly celeb partner Seann Walsh, saying ‘Brexit was forgotten for two weeks’
‘It was mental, and it took time to get over it but the way I came out of it, I am happy, and my ex-husband Neil and I have never been so close. Which I think says it all.’
Katya went on to admit that she and Neil both ‘learned lessons’ and although are no longer together they are pals and happy, even keeping in touch over lockdown.
The performer also revealed that she was offered therapy by the BBC following the furore, but was already seeing someone from her competing days.
When Katya and Seann were spotted kissing, she was married to Neil and the comedian was dating actress Rebecca Humphries, who later accused him of ‘inappropriate, hurtful behaviour’ during their relationship.
The kiss: The professional dancer, 31, was caught locking lips with the comedian, 35, after a night out in London back in October 2018
The Strictly professionals also called quits on their six-year marriage, 10 months after the kissing snaps came to light.
Elsewhere in the interview, Katya addressed the infamous Strictly Curse saying that it is her opinion the show ’empowers’ people to do things they didn’t think they could have achieved before.
She said: ‘Maybe they didn’t have the confidence, or the strength, to do these things before, or maybe some people were in long-term, unhappy relationships and doing Strictly empowered them to realise they could do better.’
Now two years on, Katya has been back in the headlines for her history making partnership with boxer Nicola Adams.
Exes: At the time of the furore, Katya was married to fellow Strictly pro Neil (pictured together during Strictly’s launch in 2019)
The duo became the first all-female partnership in the 2020 series of Strictly Come Dancing however had to drop out early when Katya tested positive for COVID-19.
Katya has spoken several times about how she’s found the chatter over her dancing with Nicola ‘strange’ as it’s a completely normal thing in the dance world.
However she did admit that it was ‘exciting’ for people to see two women dancing on a prime time TV show, even if it wasn’t an unusual sight for the professionals.
Since leaving the series, Katya revealed that she’s been getting messages from other women although nobody famous has yet got in touch.
When asked about dating, the star said she hasn’t ever been in a relationship with a woman but joked she wouldn’t be a good partner as she’s ‘bossy’.
Furore: At the time Katya was married to Neil and the comedian was dating actress Rebecca Humphries (pictured together on Strictly)
Throwback: Katya said she was offered therapy by the BBC following the furore, but was already seeing someone from her competing days (pictured with Seann on the show in 2018)
And although Nicola and Katya did not get to see the competition through until the end they will be returning to screens for a final dance.
Katya explained that they had ‘spiced up’ the routine and made it more emotional than some of their previous routines as they’re not being judged.
Last week Nicola shared a video of herself and Katya twinning in red T-shirts and black tracksuit bottoms as they rehearsed for the upcoming dance.
Nicola quickly worked up a sweat as she returned to the dance studios after self-isolating for 14 days due to the news of Katya’s positive coronavirus test result.
Back at it! It comes after Nicola and Katya reunited for rehearsals after it was confirmed that the duo would reappear on screens for one last dance
During the clip, Nicola excitedly said: ‘I haven’t even started dancing yet and I’m sweating. Literally, I’m sweating making TikToks! The struggle.’
She also shared a short video from Katya’s Instagram stories, where the Strictly pro jokingly said her partner had clearly got the dress-code ‘memo’ as they both sported bright red T-shirts.
Joking about their twinning attires, Katya said: ‘Clearly got the memo this morning. What is going on? I’m a bit more orange though, I have a little bit more fire.’
Their recent rehearsal comes soon after Nicola confirmed that she would be having one last dance with Katya after being forced to leave the dance contest.
MailOnline had previously revealed that the boxer and the Russian dancer were forced to pull out of Strictly after Katya contracted Covid and had to self-isolate for 14 days.
Talking on Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two, via video from her home, Nicola revealed: ‘Well, you know, as my saying goes: “I do like doing the most”. Me and Katya will be coming back!’
To which host Zoe Ball quickly clarified they would be dancing for one last time, rather than taking part in the competition again.
Nicola went on to explain to Zoe, 49, that it was ‘frustrating’ not being able to continue on this year’s series of Strictly, but said that she was ‘doing her part’.
Covid: MailOnline previously revealed that the boxer and the Russian dancer were forced to pull out of Strictly after Katya contracted coronavirus and had to self-isolate for 14 days