-Strictly Come Dancing professional Neil Jones has revealed the passing of his beloved dog Crumble, sharing the sad news with followers on Instagram alongside his fiancée Chyna Mills.
The dancer posted several photographs of the family pet while paying tribute to her character and spirit.
“Today we said goodbye to Crumble. She may have been small, but she had the biggest personality and brought so much joy to everyone who knew her. She loved cuddles, belly rubs, and being close to the people she loved,” Mr Jones wrote.
He added that despite the profound loss, there was solace in knowing Crumble was “finally at peace and no longer in pain.”
Neil Jones shared the sad news on social media
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PAThe heartfelt post prompted an immediate wave of support from his colleagues on the BBC dance programme.
Fellow Strictly professional Karen Hauer was quick to offer her sympathies, commenting: “Oh Neil. I’m so sorry .. so sad .. she was a beautiful little girl sending all the love x.”
Gemma Atkinson also reached out, writing: “Im so sorry Neil,” whilst former contestant Tyler West added: “I’m so sorry guys.”
The show’s head judge Shirley Ballas joined the chorus of support, along with fellow judge Motsi Mabuse.
Professional dancers Carlos Gu and Jowita Przystal similarly expressed their condolences.
Both judges and several cast members conveyed their feelings through broken heart and crying face emojis beneath the emotional post.
The personal loss comes at a time of considerable upheaval for the BBC programme, which has undergone substantial changes ahead of its next series.
It was announced in May that Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe would form a new presenting trio, stepping in after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman departed from their hosting duties.
Neil Jones shared the sad news of the loss of his dog, Crumble
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Head judge Shirley Ballas admitted the three-person lineup caught her off guard, telling The Sun: “I met Josh for the first time this week, he’s a charming chap.
“Emma, of course, I did Cooking With The Stars with – that’s a seasoned presenter and just a gorgeous lady. And who doesn’t love some Johannes? We all love him.”
She added: “It’s going to be interesting because we thought we were getting two but we ended up with three.”
The professional dancer lineup has also seen significant movement, with five new performers set to join following a wave of departures.
Karen Hauer, Gorka Marquez, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas have all left the programme, making way for fresh talent.
Mr Jones remains among the returning professionals, alongside Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden, Katya Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Jowita Przystał, Aljaž Škorjanec, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Vito Coppola, Julian Caillon and Alexis Warr.
Ms Ballas expressed her optimism about the revamped series, stating: “I think everybody is going to enjoy the new series.
“We got five new professionals coming in, some fantastic dancers. All in all, it’s having tweaks left, right and centre and it’s getting a new face!”