Strictly Come Dancing partners Neil Jones and Alex Scott have shrugged off speculation that they are dating, insisting that “there’s nothing on [their] minds but the show.”
The professional dancer, 37, and the former Arsenal player, 35, have sparked romance rumours - and comparisons to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - thanks to their chemistry on the dancefloor.
But Jones, who confirmed his split from wife and fellow Strictly star Katya in August after six years of marriage, said he hasn’t “even thought about dating” since the break-up.
“There’s nothing on our minds but the show - we don’t have time to think about anything else,” he told Hello magazine.
“I’m single but I haven’t even thought about dating. Coming out of a long-term relationship I’m just focusing on Strictly.”
Jones maintained that his recent break-up has not made things awkward behind-the-scenes, explaining that he and his ex are “still really good friends.”
“We’ve been dancing together for 11 years,” he said. “She’s supportive, I’m supportive to her. We’re in a really good place.”
The pair also joked about their perceived likeness to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with Scott revealing: “We’ve had that [comparison] a lot. From the moment we were paired it’s like, look at those two, Harry and Meghan.”
They received 33 points from the judges for their Charleston to Pump Up The Jam during Saturday evening’s Strictly live show.
The Joneses announced their “mutual” decision to part ways in an Instagram post shared in August, telling fans: “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.”
Their relationship hit the headlines last year when Katya was pictured kissing her then Strictly dance partner Seann Walsh on a night out.
A representative for the Joneses said that the split was not influenced by the controversy, stating: “It would be incorrect and unfair to attribute their separation to one isolated incident.
“Many people make such a decision to separate when they realise that their relationship has become more of a friendship.”
The full interview is in Hello magazine, out now.
