Strictly Come Dancing star left ‘absolutely mortified’ by partner

Neil Jones was left ‘mortified’ after being voted off Strictly Come Dancing with Toyah Willcox, an expert has claimed.

Pro dancer Neil, 42, was paired with singer Toyah, 66, on this year’s series of the dance show, marking the first time he’d been given a celebrtiy partner since 2021.

Unfortunately, the pair’s time on Strictly was cut short when they wound up in the dance-off during the third live show. Toyah and Neil faced and Karen Hauer in the dance-off, but the judges ultimately opted to save Karen and Paul.

A body language expert has now weighed in on Neil and Toyah’s reactions to being voted off Strictly, claiming the pro dancer was ‘mortified’ while Toyah had a ‘fake smile’.

Darren Stanton, a body language and behavioural expert, said of Toyah: “Toyah has a very fixed expression, kind of like a mask, just before the result is confirmed. It’s a sort of fake smile. I think she knew in her heart she was going to be leaving. She was very stoic and still throughout the deliberation and wasn’t giving too much away.

“I think the root of the problem is Toyah displays emotion in her own way, but external signs that she is passionate and happy are suppressed.”

Meanwhile, Neil will take the elimination as a ‘dent’ against his ‘professional tuition’, Darren claimed. Speaking on Betfair Slingo, the expert said: “There was a moment as the results came in where Neil was speaking in her ear, giving some sort of solace, but Toyah was not acknowledging it. She was in a state of anticipation waiting for the moment to end.

“They didn’t really have a great dynamic or great rapport, and that’s what has cost them here. I think Neil feels absolutely mortified here. They have an Olympic-esque mindset towards their craft. He was doing an expression with his lips as if he was holding his breath. They’ve all got professional pride and I just feel he was disappointed to have been voted off so early. They take it as a dent against their professional tuition.”

Darren also revealed that he feels Toyah has now ‘connected’ with Neil, which may have hindered their chances of excelling in the competition.

“Toyah has not been very good at connecting, and although she says she did, I don’t believe she has been able to build a deep relationship with her pro dancer. You’ve got to have that passion and be able to demonstrate it,” Darren said.

“This was the most tense moment of the competition, and she’s not showing any emotion. Instead, she is suppressing it, which is something she’s learnt to do, she’s holding in a lot.”