Neil Jones to partner Anita Rani on Strictly Christmas special

Neil Jones has landed his first-ever celebrity pairing on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
The 35-year-old professional dancer – whose wife is fellow pro Katya Jones, who hit the headlines earlier this year when she was pictured smooching ‘Strictly’ contestant Seann Walsh, despite the pair both being in relationships at the time – will team up with Anita Rani for the show’s Christmas special.
Neil has competed in the 2016 and 2017 festive editions of the Latin and ballroom show, and he competes in the group dances of the regular competition each week.
The BBC have also confirmed former show winner Caroline Flack will team up with Gorka Marquez, while Aston Merrygold will join forces with Janette Manrara.
Jake Wood and Michael Vaughan will dance with ‘Strictly’ Christmas special debutants Luba Mushtuk and Nadiya Bychkova respectively.
What’s more, Anton du Beke will team up with Ann Widdecombe once again after they competed on the show together in 2010, and the pro dancer recently admitted he fears he might "break" Ann if he starts chucking her across the dancefloor nowadays.
He said: "Mostly everybody gets a bit of the chuck and slide whether they want it or not.
"Anne said, ‘Oh I’d love to do that.’ And I said, ‘I’m not sure I can chuck you across,’ and she said, ‘No, no, you must.’
"She was so brilliant and game and fun. She wanted to enjoy herself and she wanted to entertain people.
"I’m not going to be chucking her quite as much. I might break her."
Ann recently admitted she can’t wait to return to the show for the festive special.
She said: "I am very much looking forward to returning to ‘Strictly’, where I shall once again be pushed, pulled, cajoled and coaxed around the dancefloor in all manner of ways by my poor dance partner. Who knows, they might even fire me out of a canon."
The ‘Strictly’ Christmas special will air on Christmas Day (25.12.18).