Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones has shared some devastating news as his BBC co-stars rushed to support him. The dancer and his former Love Island star fiancée, Chyna Mills, posted a joint statement to Instagram announcing the heartbreaking loss of their pet dog, Crumble.
Emotional Tribute to Crumble
Sharing a series of pictures of their four-legged friend, they captioned the post with an emotional message. "Today we said goodbye to Crumble," it read. "She may have been small, but she had the biggest personality and brought so much joy to everyone who knew her. She loved cuddles, belly rubs, and being close to the people she loved. She will be missed more than words can say, but we find comfort in knowing she is finally at peace and no longer in pain. Sleep tight, Crumble."
Support from Fellow Dancers
Fellow dancers Nancy Xu and Jowita Przystal were among the first to comment as they posted some sad emojis. Joanne Clifton added: "It's SO sad... Sending love."
Neil and Chyna's Relationship Journey
Neil and Chyna began dating in 2022 and welcomed their child, a daughter named Havana, in October 2023. Romantic sparks flew after Neil reached out on Instagram and they subsequently met at the Reality TV Awards. Neil proposed to Chyna in Bali, with the pair publicly announcing their engagement and pregnancy in April 2023.
Wedding Plans and Family
The couple originally delayed their nuptials so Havana could be old enough to walk down the aisle with them, and Chyna later revealed in May 2026 that they were just weeks away from the wedding. They have stated they are content with one child and are not planning to expand their family further.
Neil's Previous Marriage to Katya Jones
Prior to his current relationship, Neil was married to co-star Katya Jones. She admitted that her ex was untruthful and spilled that amid meeting Neil back in 2008, she was in a "bad place" and later realised he lied to make himself more appealing to her. In an unearthed past joint interview, the pair spoke about a contentious issue in their then romance. Katya said: "It was a complicated time in my life. I was 18 and in a bad place. I was meant to compete but had split up from my partner [Igor Astafiyev, who was Katya's dance and real-life partner]."
She then revealed that Neil, now 44, pretended to be younger than he was. "My mum said we should go anyway and my teacher Richard Porter said he had somebody in mind, which turned out to be Neil. He lied about his age." Neil swiftly shot back in the joint interview: "I didn't lie! She thought I was younger. She had another try out with a guy who was 26, the same age I was." Despite that, the pair got engaged in 2012 and later married in 2013 at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge, London. They split in 2019.
