Neil Jones' Subtle Swipe After Strictly's Low Score

Neil Jones, the professional dancer from Strictly Come Dancing, has finally decided to break the silence that was as thick as the fog over London after finding himself at the bottom of the leaderboard in the very first week of the BBC competition. Now, you have to understand… this is not just any ordinary leaderboard; this is a reflection of the highs and lows that come with dancing—usually high expectations and low execution.

During Saturday night’s spectacle, 66-year-old singer-songwriter Toyah Willcox graced the dance floor with a performance that attempted to channel the spirit of Madonna’s Ray of Light. Partnered with the ever-determined Neil, who, at 42, has a few rungs of life experience on her, they executed a tango that left onlookers holding their breath... probably due to sheer disbelief. They shared the stage with Tom Dean and Nadiya Bychkova, which felt more like a riveting drama than a dance-off.

After their debut, the pair received a refreshing score of 12 points—yes, you read that correctly, a dozen—for their efforts from the judging panel comprised of the usual suspects: Craig Revel-Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Motsi Mabuse. It’s been three long years since Neil danced with any celebrity—his last partner was the former EastEnders star, Nina Wadia. Now, you could almost hear the collective sigh from the viewers as Neil and Toyah were flung to the bottom of the leaderboard like yesterday’s confetti.

But here’s the thing: Neil is not one to give up. Instagram became his stage, and he took the opportunity to address his lackluster score with a resilience that can only be compared to that of a true dance warrior. In a post that seemed to want to reassure his 262,000 followers—yes, over a quarter of a million people are invested in this journey—he said, "Okay, week one and what can I say? Firstly, I am having a blast with Toyah.”

With a twinkle in his eye, he lauded Toyah for her love of the show, saying it was “incredible” and that she brings joy into everyone’s lives. Isn’t that the hallmark of a true partner? That spark of joy can be harder to find than a good pair of dancing shoes! Neil lovingly affirmed his preference for complete beginners, celebrating the joy of watching Toyah evolve. “If you watched her on day one, you'll see how much Toyah has improved. So, we are starting our journey with a 12, and we will keep finding ways to direct her incredible energy. Let’s go partner with week two.”

As if that weren’t enough drama for one week, the Strictly premiere faced a shadow looming largely in the backdrop—the bullying allegations that have been pestering the BBC show like an unwelcome guest at a wedding. With the exit of stars like Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, the stakes feel higher than ever. Viewer figures took a hit, reaching a peak of just 6.7 million for the live show, a decline from last year’s 7.3 million—proving that not all dances are destined to be watched.

It’s a trend that has made bosses sit up and take note; insiders have claimed they are “worried”—and when the powers that be are worried, you know things are serious. “The fact that the first live show saw a drop is a cause for concern—especially if it continues into next week, which is the first elimination show,” one insider conveyed, with the sort of urgency usually reserved for a coming-of-age story. “They now face an anxious wait to see whether the drop will be compensated by an increase in fans tuning in on iPlayer, but those numbers take days to compile.” And let’s face it, live figures are what really matter in this dramatic ballet we call reality TV.

So, as Neil prepares to dig his sequined shoes into week two, we all await the next twirl, dip, and fall—because isn’t that just life? A dance filled with unexpected turns and charming missteps that keep us all coming back for more.