Strictly’s Neil and Katya Jones secretly split a month before announcing the news
STRICTLY stars Neil and Katya Jones had been planning their shock split for nearly a month.
According to new documents, the professional dancers set up their own individual companies weeks ago despite always working jointly during their 11 years together.
On 31 July, Neil set up Jonesey Ltd, and just under a week later, on August 5, Katya set up her own firm Sokolova Ltd, which is her maiden name.
Both are classified as 'amusement and recreation activities’ businesses.
Until that point, the pair, who had been married for six years and together since 2008, had always been a tight duo.
They had their own dance studio and events space called The Joneses’ Studio, in Alton, Hampshire, which hosts dance classes and lessons.
They also had their own website neilandkatya.com which advertised all their work, including their most recent performance in June where Neil, 37, had directed and they both starred in a show called Somnium: A Dancer’s Dream at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London.
Despite most Strictly dancers earning over £30,000 from appearing on the show, Katya and Neil’s joint performing arts company, The Joneses’ Ltd, was barely profitable, only having £4,136 in reserves last year.
Ever since the split was announced last Sunday, fans have been wondering if it had been a business arrangement since Katya, 30, was caught kissing her former Strictly dance partner, comedian Seann Walsh, last October.
One said: "I think this was a marriage of convenience to be honest. It was weird how Neil was so unbothered by the kiss."
Yet they could be taking a leaf out of the book of their good friends, Karen and Kevin Clifton, who managed to divorce on good terms even amid adultery claims.
For a long time after their split, Karen and Kevin ran The Clifton Academy - a dance school in Grimsby - together until Kevin resigned as a director in June.
The Joneses’ Studio is a similar concept, but has even more money making activities going on such as hosting weddings, meets and greets with Neil and Katya, and even choreographing newly weds' first dance.
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In a statement posted on both their Instagrams, they claimed they wanted to remain a team, saying: "Hi everyone. As our fans and loyal supporters you are really important to us and so we wanted to let you know some news.
"After 11 years we have made the mutual decision to separate.
"We will always love each other, just in a different way as friends.
"This will never change what a great team we make and we are really proud of everything we have achieved together."
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