ALTON’S hugely talented Strictly Come Dancing duo Neil and Ekaterina (Katya) Jones are flying high this Christmas as they continue to entertain television viewers with their innovative choreography and an amazing ability to bring out the best in their celebrity dance partners.

While Katya, 28, coached Holby City actor Joe McFadden through the challenging extravaganza of this year’s competition to lift the prestigious Glitterball trophy, husband Neil showed that he too had the ability to inspire.

Having appeared over the past two years as a member of the Strictly professional team, in a stand-by role and participating in group dances, the Christmas Special, aired on Christmas Day, was Neil’s opportunity to shine. After just a week’s training, he partnered tennis coach Judy Murray in a highly entertaining and colourfully choreographed Charleston, to the amazement of the judges, who remarked in particular on how much improved Mrs Murray was on her previous showing of the dance in 2014.

Undefeated four-time British national champions, and three-time winners of the World Amateur Latin Championships, Neil and Katya Jones opened the Bell House Dance Studio on Windmill Hill in Alton in September 2011, joining the BBC Strictly Come Dancing team in 2016 when Katya partnered Labour politician Ed Balls.

Speaking after her amazing win in this year’s competition, Katya said: “Clearly Joe wasn’t a contender to win from the start, but I saw so much potential in him and never stopped pushing him. So I think people connected to the fact that he wasn’t the best from the start but kept trying and really has grown so much as a dancer and performer.

“The difference between his dancing during the first couple of weeks and in the last few weeks was very clear. He also was great at playing characters. But apart from his dancing journey, he is just a lovely, honest, charming person. He was never fake and people could see that.”

She continued: “Winning Strictly Come Dancing is a fantastic thing. And I’m sure it will play a massive role in building my career in the industry. However, together with my husband, Neil, we have a lot of plans outside Strictly, and being accomplished dancers we don’t just rely on the success of the show and will be working hard toward our dreams.

“I have now done two years on Strictly Come Dancing and I would love to be back if they want me, but also I really hope Neil will get a celebrity partner to show how good he is, and to maybe add another Glitterball to our household!”

When asked how Neil felt about her victory, Katya said: “Strictly is a very consuming and intense process, we both understand that and we only give each other support; moral and physical. He was absolutely ecstatic when we won.

“The last few weeks were tough, I was exhausted and he was the one that kept me going, he would organise hot baths for me and just give me a hug when I needed it. We got to where we are by being an amazing team, so there is definitely no rivalry.”

While the Strictly Silver Star trophy was lifted on Christmas Day by 2015 finalist Katie Derham, dancing a Christmassy Viennese Waltz with Brendan Cole, Neil’s ‘Jack in the Box’ performance with Judy Murray had to top the bill for festive originality.

The sensational festive spectacular also saw four other of Strictly’s most memorable contestants return to the ballroom: namely Kimberley Walsh, Colin Jackson, Robbie Savage and Jeremy Vine.