Strictly’s Neil Jones and ex wife Katya prove they are the friendliest of exes in birthday post

Neil Jones and his estranged wife Katya showed their unwavering support for one another, days before Seann Walsh admitted his kiss with the Strictly dancer ‘destroyed my dreams’. 

In an Instagram post last week, Neil, 39, wished Katya, 32, a Happy Birthday and told her to ‘never change’.   

The former couple announced the end of their marriage in August 2019, less than a year after Katya was pictured passionately kissing her celebrity partner Seann, 35. 

Sweet: Neil Jones and his estranged wife Katya showed their unwavering support to one another, days before Seann Walsh admitted his kiss with the dancer ‘destroyed my dreams’

Friendliest of exes: In an Instagram post last week, Neil, 39, wished Katya, 32, a Happy Birthday and told her to 'never change'

Friendliest of exes: In an Instagram post last week, Neil, 39, wished Katya, 32, a Happy Birthday and told her to ‘never change’

In a gushing post, Neil wrote: ‘Happy Birthday @katyajones please never change, maybe be a little bit calmer when you dance with me but other than that keep being the over the top definition of Energy that we all know and love.’

To which Katya replied: ‘Thank you so much !!!!! ❤️ unfortunately can not guarantee giving less, I guess you’ll have to step up!!’

Neil shared a snap of Katya flashing her abs as well as some throwbacks from her time dancing. 

Drama: The post comes days before comedian Sean said his kissing scandal with Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones 'destroyed his dreams' (pictured with Katya in 2018)

Drama: The post comes days before comedian Sean said his kissing scandal with Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones ‘destroyed his dreams’ (pictured with Katya in 2018)

Funny: In a gushing post, Neil wrote: 'Happy Birthday @katyajones please never change, maybe be a little bit calmer when you dance with me'

Funny: In a gushing post, Neil wrote: ‘Happy Birthday @katyajones please never change, maybe be a little bit calmer when you dance with me’

The exes have remained close friends since announcing their break-up in August 2019 and often dance together as part of the professional group on Strictly. 

Earlier this month, Katya paid tribute to Neil on his 39th birthday with a series of ’embarrassing’ throwbacks.

The Strictly Come Dancing star took to Instagram to share snaps with her former partner alongside a series of pals as they celebrated the big day.

The first shot saw Neil smile for the camera with friends as held a giant balloon which read ‘Happy Birthday’, while another picture saw the gang all pose on a boat as they partied. 

Friendliest of exes: Earlier this month, Katya paid tribute to Neil on his 39th birthday with a series of 'embarrassing' throwbacks

Friendliest of exes: Earlier this month, Katya paid tribute to Neil on his 39th birthday with a series of ’embarrassing’ throwbacks

She captioned the post: ‘Happy Birthday @mr_njonesofficial! Geez, you’re getting old.

 ‘But still full of life, energy and positivity! Keep that smile on your face and keep that hair ginger! Sorry I used to straighten it (swipe for some embarrassing phktos).

‘May it be a great year for you!! Lots of love. #strictlycomedancing #birthday #happybirthday (sic)’ 

The post comes days before comedian Sean said his kissing scandal with Strictly Come Dancing partner Katya Jones ‘destroyed his dreams’ and changed his life forever.    

The comedian told how his mental health was greatly affected by the incident in 2018 and he is still on anti-depressants and sometimes suffers from panic attacks.

Speaking on the Take Flight podcast, Seann told how he had to ‘lie down in the street’ the other day after a panic attack.

Recalling the moment the kiss became public, he said: ‘From that point on my life changed for ever. 

‘The panic attacks came back – big, big panic attacks and I ended up having what I later found out were Vertigo Seizures.

‘I had one the other day, I just lied down – I had to lie down in the street, it’s quite humiliating. It’s London so nobody gives a s***.

‘I have to relive what happened. Still, I can be OK then suddenly the memories of it all come back.

Scandal: The comedian, 35, told how his mental health was greatly affected by the incident in 2018 and he is still on anti-depressants and sometimes suffers from panic attacks

Scandal: The comedian, 35, told how his mental health was greatly affected by the incident in 2018 and he is still on anti-depressants and sometimes suffers from panic attacks

‘It defeats me and beats me until the plates start spinning and I lose balance and fall and start screaming, so I still get them.

‘They’re less frequent, I’d never had them before. I’m on anti-anxiety, anti-depression, it’s called Sertraline. For me exercise is what helps me.’

Seann said that prior to the kiss he had big dreams for his comedy career but then felt like he was ‘living without hope’ when the scandal emerged.

He said: ‘I was a very dream-like young man, I would dream of doing the Apollo, my sitcom, I was always living in this fantasy land.

‘Then it was suddenly the first time I was living without hope.

Honest: Recalling the moment the kiss became public, he said: 'From that point on my life changed for ever. The panic attacks came back'

Honest: Recalling the moment the kiss became public, he said: ‘From that point on my life changed for ever. The panic attacks came back’

‘A kiss and a statement destroyed my dreams and who I was. What I could have been, what my life could have been, what I could have made myself was gone.’

After images and video of the kiss were released, an onlooker who witnessed Seann and Katya’s kiss, told The Sun they were ‘snogging like a pair of teenagers’ and ‘didn’t seem to care who might see them’.

The pair were at the Duke Of York pub in Marylebone in Central London in October 2018. 

Their close relationship was noted by members of the crew but the kiss still came as a shock to everyone.

Career: Seann said that prior to the kiss he had big dreams for his comedy career but then felt like he was 'living without hope' when the scandal emerged

Career: Seann said that prior to the kiss he had big dreams for his comedy career but then felt like he was ‘living without hope’ when the scandal emerged

Ex: Following the incident, Seann's actress girlfriend Rebecca Humphries released an impassioned statement in which she revealed he called her 'psycho' and 'nuts' for questioning his friendship with Katya

Ex: Following the incident, Seann’s actress girlfriend Rebecca Humphries released an impassioned statement in which she revealed he called her ‘psycho’ and ‘nuts’ for questioning his friendship with Katya

Following the incident, Seann’s actress girlfriend Rebecca Humphries released an impassioned statement in which she revealed he called her ‘psycho’ and ‘nuts’ for questioning his friendship with Katya, who he kissed on Rebecca’s birthday.

While Katya was supported by her husband Neil Jones after the ‘drunken mistake’, their marriage did not last as they announced their split in August 2019.  

The dancers confirmed they were splitting in joint Instagram statements, but despite writing they had mutual ‘respect’ and ‘love’, a source claimed Katya’s infidelity was something her husband couldn’t get over. 

The pair have remained friends since the split and continue to be professional dancers together on Strictly. 

If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org 

Split: While Katya was supported by her husband Neil Jones after the 'drunken mistake', their marriage did not last as they announced their split in August 2019 (pictured in April  2019)

Split: While Katya was supported by her husband Neil Jones after the ‘drunken mistake’, their marriage did not last as they announced their split in August 2019 (pictured in April  2019)