Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones has confirmed he won’t be leaving the BBC One dance competition following the arrival of his daughter later this year.
It’s fair to say there’s been quite a baby boom over the past 12 months on the BBC One dance competition after pro dancers Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara welcomed their first child just days after Gorka Márquez and Gemma Atkinson welcomed their second.
But the baby fever isn’t over yet after the red-haired ballroom dancer revealed he and his fiancée and former Love Island star Chyna Mills are expecting their first child together later this year.
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The happy couple revealed they were expecting a little baby girl back in June during the Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals tour in the London Palladium.
(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Now, the TV hunk has reassured fans that he won’t be leaving the show any time soon after the star-studded line-up of celebrity contestants set to take part this year was announced last week.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star at a dog fur-iendly event at Romeo and Juliet’s café last week, he told us: “I’m not going anywhere, it’s what I love doing so much and Chyna is so supportive of me and so yeah, I’m going to keep going.”
(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
He went on to reveal that the dad-to-be has already received some much-needed advice from new dad Aljaž ahead of his daughter’s arrival.
Neil went on: “I’ve been speaking to Aljaž as well and he was just telling me it’s the best thing in the world and he said, ‘I just want to look at her all day and I just want to spend time with her’.
“And I knew that because of how long I’ve known Aljaž for, he’s been wanting a child, him and Janette, they’ve been wanting a baby and they’re gonna be the best parents.”
(Image: jmanrara and aljazskorjanec/Instagram)
While the excited parents found out the gender of their unborn tot back in June, the proud dad confessed that they haven’t come up with a name for the youngster yet.
The pro dancer explained: “We’re having a daughter, but we keep going back and forth with names, so I think we’re going to meet her and then decide.”
Neil went on to reveal that he first found out he was going to be a father while he was on tour within the first few months of trying for a baby.
(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)
He continued: “A lot of the tour was a bit different for me this time while we were on the arena tour that’s when I actually found out that I was going to be a dad.
“We had talked about it but we just never thought it would happen so quick because we decided to try for a child and it literally happened straight away.”
The expert performer confessed he already has plans to teach his unborn daughter how to dance and would love to see her perform on Strictly one day.
He added: “I’ve already said I’d love for our daughter to learn how to dance. If she’s really into it then I’ll know the right teachers because it’s one of those things, kids will always listen to somebody else. I’d love it If she wanted to go on Strictly.”
(Image: Instagram)
It comes after the hunk attended a dog fur-riendly photography exhibition at Romeo and Juliet’s café on North Hampstead last week.
The star-studded event celebrated the 30th anniversary of animal charity Mayhew which seeks homes for animals all over London.
Sherine Wheeler, Chief Executive at Mayhew, said: “The exhibition has been a delight – the portraits beautifully encapsulate the spirit of each featured dog and cat and underscore the importance of adopting rescue animals.
(Image: Andy Barnes)
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“We hope people will consider purchasing a portrait or donating to Mayhew and importantly, explore whether they can adopt or foster one of the dogs or cats in our care who is waiting for their second chance.”
For more information on the exhibition, the animals in need of rescue or to make a donation, visit their website.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
