Neil Jones – Strictly Pro Dancer, Partner and Baby Guide

Who is Neil Jones? A Strictly Come Dancing Professional

Neil Jones is a British professional dancer best known as a long-standing member of the Strictly Come Dancing troupe. Born on 4 May 1982 in Munster, Germany, to British Army parents, he grew up moving around before dedicating his life to competitive ballroom and Latin dance. Today, he is engaged to reality star Chyna Mills and the couple have a young daughter named Havana.

Jones has won an extraordinary 45 dance championship titles, including four World Latin Championships and multiple British and European crowns. He joined the BBC show in 2016 and has since become a familiar face in pro routines and on It Takes Two. Despite occasional confusion with a football journalist of the same name, Neil Jones the dancer remains a constant presence on the Strictly dance floor.

Below is a quick overview of his key details, followed by a deeper look at his career, family, and the most common questions about him.

Key insights about Neil Jones

• He is one of the most decorated male dancers ever to appear on Strictly, with 45 competition titles.
• His first celebrity partner was former footballer Alex Scott in 2019, with whom he reached the quarter-final.
• He was previously married to fellow Strictly pro Katya Jones from 2013 to 2019.
• There is frequent online confusion between Neil Jones the dancer and a Liverpool FC journalist who shares the same name.
• He has worked as a choreographer for Britain’s Got Talent and appeared in earlier Strictly specials.

Is Neil Jones Still on Strictly Come Dancing?

Yes, Neil Jones remains part of the Strictly Come Dancing professional lineup. He joined the show in 2016 for its 14th season and initially appeared only in group pro routines and on the spin-off It Takes Two. It took three years before he received a celebrity partner.

His first celebrity partnership

In 2019, Jones was paired with former England footballer Alex Scott. The duo impressed audiences and judges alike, making it to the quarter-final and finishing in 5th place. That remains his best performance to date.

Recent seasons and 2024 partnership

In 2021 he danced with actress Nina Wadia (15th place), and in 2024 he was paired with singer and actress Toyah Willcox, finishing 14th. Despite early exits, Jones continues to be valued for his choreography and experience. Online discussions describe him as “the most decorated male dancer” on the show and, as of 2025, he is still listed among the active professional dancers.

Who Is Neil Jones’ Partner? All About Chyna Mills

Neil Jones’ current partner is Chyna Mills, a British reality television personality. She is best known for appearing on the E4 series The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE). The couple began dating in 2021 and announced their engagement in April 2023.

Chyna Mills: reality star and entrepreneur

Mills joined TOWIE in 2018 and has since built a following on social media. She also runs her own business ventures. Her relationship with Jones attracted significant media attention, particularly when they revealed they were expecting a child.

Are Neil Jones and Chyna Mills married?

As of 2025, the couple is engaged but not yet married. Neil Jones was previously married to fellow Strictly pro Katya Jones from 2013 until their separation in August 2019. He and Chyna Mills have not publicly set a wedding date.

Does Neil Jones Have a Baby? Family Life

Yes, Neil Jones and Chyna Mills welcomed a daughter named Havana in October 2023. As of mid-2026, Havana is approximately two and a half years old. The couple has not publicly shared the exact birthplace, but the pregnancy was announced in April 2023.

When did he become a father?

Neil Jones became a father for the first time in October 2023. He and Mills had been together for about two years at that point. Jones has spoken in interviews about how fatherhood has changed his perspective.

About Havana

Havana is the couple’s only child publicly known. Neither Jones nor Mills has indicated plans for more children, though speculation occasionally arises. The family maintains a relatively private life away from the dancefloor.

Is Neil Jones Welsh? Background and Nationality

No, Neil Jones is not Welsh. Although some sources have mistakenly listed his birthplace as Aberdare, Wales, the most reliable records – including his BBC profile and Wikipedia – state he was born in Munster, Germany, on a British Army camp. His parents were serving in the British military at the time, which is why he was born abroad.

Born in Germany to British parents

Jones’ father and mother were British Army personnel stationed in Germany. This means he holds British nationality but was not born in the United Kingdom. He grew up in various locations before moving to Blackpool, where he met his future wife Katya Jones in 2008.

No connection to Wales

The confusion likely arises from the presence of another Neil Jones – a Welsh footballer or a journalist – combined with early inaccurate profiles. All authoritative sources now confirm that the Strictly dancer has no Welsh birthplace or upbringing.

What Is Neil Jones’ Connection to Liverpool?

There is no connection between Neil Jones the dancer and the city of Liverpool. Searches for “Neil Jones Liverpool” most often refer to a different Neil Jones – a football journalist who covers Liverpool FC for various media outlets. The dancer met his ex-wife Katya Jones in Blackpool, not Liverpool, and does not have any known family or career ties to the city.

This name collision causes frequent confusion online. When users search for updates about the Strictly pro, they may encounter articles about the football journalist, and vice versa. Clear disambiguation is needed, but the dancer himself has not addressed the mix‑up publicly.

Neil Jones: Career and Personal Timeline

1. 1982 – Born in Munster, Germany, to British Army parents.
2. 2000s – Competes and wins multiple dance championships, including World Latin and British National titles.
3. 2016 – Joins Strictly Come Dancing as a professional dancer (season 14).
4. 2019 – Receives his first celebrity partner, Alex Scott; reaches the quarter‑final.
5. 2021 – Partners with Nina Wadia; begins relationship with Chyna Mills.
6. April 2023 – Announces engagement to Chyna Mills and pregnancy.
7. October 2023 – Daughter Havana is born.
8. 2024 – Paired with Toyah Willcox; continues as a pro dancer.
9. 2025 – Remains on the Strictly roster and active on social media.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear About Neil Jones?

Context: Why Neil Jones Attracts So Much Search Interest

Neil Jones represents a rare combination of elite competitive achievement and mainstream television fame. His transition from world‑class ballroom competitor to a regular on Britain’s most popular dance show gives him broad appeal. Interest in his personal life skyrocketed after his relationship with Chyna Mills became public and even more so when they had a baby. At the same time, the persistent name collision with a Liverpool‑based football journalist means many queries about the dancer actually lead to the wrong person, creating a need for clear, authoritative information.

What the Official Sources Say About Neil Jones

“Neil has been part of the Strictly family since 2016, starring in many memorable Pro routines and bringing fun and expertise to It Takes Two.”

— BBC Strictly Profile

“Neil Jones (born 4 May 1982) is a British dancer and choreographer, best known for his role as a professional dancer in the BBC One dance series Strictly Come Dancing.”

— Wikipedia

Summary: Neil Jones in 2025

Neil Jones remains a central figure in the Strictly Come Dancing professional cast, celebrated for his championship‑level dancing and long tenure on the show. Off the dancefloor, he is building a family with fiancée Chyna Mills and their daughter Havana. The most common misconceptions – that he is Welsh or from Liverpool – are unfounded; he was born in Germany and lives in England. For readers interested in other Strictly professionals, the profile of Johannes Radebe offers a similar deep dive into another popular dancer.

Frequently Asked Questions

For a deeper look at another Strictly professional, see our profile on Johannes Radebe. And for a complete guide to a beloved BBC charity mascot, visit Pudsey Bear.