Strictly’s Katya Jones flatters Adam Peaty before near ‘kiss’—'It’s the connection'

Strictly Come Dancing’s Katya Jones has shared some kind words about her partner Adam Peaty, who has been accused of 'almost' kissing her during last night's performance. 

It’s Monday, and you know what that means—the Strictly tea has been freshly boiled. Last night’s episode of the BBC dance competition brought another serving of irresistible drama, including controversy over who left Strictly this week and devastation about the exit of Robert Webb. 

But perhaps the most jaw-dropping section of the show was created by Adam Peaty, who has been accused of ‘almost’ kissing his professional dance partner, Katya Jones, at the end of their sultry tango performance. With the British swimmer currently dating artist Eiri Munro, fans have been quick to criticize the level of intimacy between him and his mentor. 

It doesn't help that the duo has apparently gotten on well during training, with Katya praising her partner for his commitment to the competition. 

The pro dancer has revealed that Adam’s hard work in the rehearsal studio “really shows”, telling Hello!, “I’ve worked with athletes before and they’re always prepared.” 

Katya also emphasized the importance of chemistry between the dancers, adding, “It’s not just about the steps and hard work; it’s also the connection and the feeling you leave people with. You don’t just do the steps; you’ve got to perform them.” 

Katya’s sweet statements came just before the pair stunned both the Strictly Come Dancing judges and audience with their Argentine choreography to Fleetwood Mac’s Tango in the Night on Sunday evening’s episode. The steamy performance culminated with some intimate face-to-face touching, prompting many viewers to believe that Adam had inadvertently leaned in for an impulsive smooch. 

The backlash was so intense that Adam Peaty’s girlfriend reacted to the near kiss herself, taking to Tiktok to reveal her ‘tears’ over the alleged slip-up. Eiri Munro, 23, has been in a relationship with the 26-year-old Olympian for several years now, having first set eyes on him at her alma mater of Loughborough University. The couple welcomed a baby boy, George-Anderson, in September 2020. 

Adam also weighed in on the hysteria over the so-called 'near kiss', issuing a strongly worded message to the critics on social media. 

"To everyone who wants to see what they want, your comments have real life consequences. I will not be overcome or lowered by your gossip. Protect your energy,” he wrote on Twitter and Instagram. 

As for the performance, he called it "my favourite dance so far." Adam and Katya also received plenty of positive feedback from the judges for the dance, coming in at joint second place with an impressive score of 32.