Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones has shared an update on his career with his followers this week
Neil Jones has announced ‘that’s a wrap’ after taking on a project beyond his usual Strictly Come Dancing appearances.
The professional dancer is most recognised for his involvement on the BBC programme, having joined back in 2016.
However, throughout his competitive dancing journey, he secured 45 dance championship titles, including eight British National victories, eight Dutch National wins, a European triumph and four World Latin Champion accolades.
Earlier this year, Neil was confirmed to be returning to Strictly for his 10th series, but at the beginning of the 2025 edition, it was disappointingly announced that Neil hadn’t been allocated a celebrity partner for the 2025 series of the dance competition programme – alongside fellow professionals Nancy Xu, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas.
Nevertheless, the dancers remained integral to the show, featuring in group routines and performing with the musical acts. Whilst the popular dance programme concluded on December 20 for another year, with Karen Carney and Carlos Gu claiming the Strictly crown, Neil couldn’t afford to rest as he moved straight into his next project.
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In early December, Neil used social media to reveal his pantomime role. “The news is out,” he posted alongside a video also sharing the announcement, reports the Manchester Evening News.
“I’m playing the Villainous Abanazar in the pantomime Aladdin at the Middleton Arena from Sunday 21st December until Monday 29th December. Tickets are on sale now so go get yours and feel free to come and boooooo me, I dare you.”
It was on Monday (December 29) that Neil was supported in the audience by his partner, Chyna Mills, and their daughter, Havana.
Posting a clip of Neil performing on her Instagram Story, Chyna gushed: “Our first panto together [face holding back tears emoji]. We danced, laughed and booed. Safe to say me and Havana loved every second.”
This proved to be their final opportunity to witness Neil in the pantomime, as he announced on Tuesday (December 30): “And that’s a wrap, my first ever panto and I wanted to do it to challenge myself with having to learn all the script at home and then going straight in the day after Strictly ended.”
He added: “I have to say I enjoyed every moment, learning, performing and working with such a professional and talented group of people who had me enjoying my whole time in panto. So massive thank you to them all and @middlestonarena @shone_ltd.”
Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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