BBC bosses were ‘desperate’ to keep the 36-year-old Russian dancer amid the bloodbath because ‘they know how popular she is with viewers.’
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15632193/Desperate-BBC-bosses-save-Katya-Jones-hand-new-Strictly-Come-Dancing-contract-bloodbath-talent-show.html