Strictly Come Dancing Star Alexis Warr Confirms Separation From Husband in Emotional Statement
Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Alexis Warr has announced that she and her husband, Jake Burton, have decided to end their marriage after several years together.
Warr, who became part of the BBC dance competition’s professional line-up last season, shared the personal news with her followers in an emotional statement posted on social media.
The dancer and Burton had been together for many years before deciding to separate. The couple first met as high school sweethearts and eventually married in 2018, meaning their relationship had spanned a significant part of their adult lives.
Despite the difficult decision, Warr made it clear that their separation had not come from a place of hostility or resentment.
Instead, she said the decision had been made after considerable thought and with a great deal of affection and respect for one another.
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Warr began by apologising for being relatively quiet recently before explaining that she wanted to share an important personal update with her followers.
“Sorry I’ve been a bit MIA… sharing a personal update,” she wrote before revealing that she and Burton had chosen to go their separate ways.
The professional dancer explained that the decision had followed a lengthy period of consideration.
She emphasised that both she and Burton continued to have tremendous respect for each other and that, although separating had been emotionally challenging, it was ultimately a decision they had reached together.
According to Warr, the couple still consider themselves each other’s biggest supporters.
She described the decision as one made with “a huge amount of love”, suggesting that their relationship had ended on amicable terms rather than following a bitter dispute.
Warr also asked fans and the wider public to respect their privacy while they adjust to the major change in their lives.
The dancer said that neither she nor Burton intended to discuss the details of their separation publicly.
She therefore requested understanding from supporters and made clear that the pair would not be providing additional comments about their relationship.
Her statement concluded with a message thanking fans for the continued support they have shown her throughout her career and during what is likely to be a particularly challenging personal period.
The announcement comes as Warr prepares to return to Strictly Come Dancing for another season.
The professional dancer joined the BBC programme last year and is expected to be part of the professional line-up again when the show returns later this year.
Her return comes at a time of significant change for the long-running series.
Several familiar professional dancers have departed the programme, including Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer and Gorka Márquez.
The changes have also affected the presenting team.
Long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have stepped away from the main programme, bringing an end to an era for the popular BBC entertainment series.
They will be replaced by a new trio consisting of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
The introduction of three new presenters represents one of the biggest format changes in Strictly’s recent history.
Radebe is particularly familiar to the show’s audience, having previously competed as one of its professional dancers.
Meanwhile, Willis brings years of television and radio experience to the programme, while Widdicombe is expected to provide a strong comedic presence.
The new presenting arrangement will also create some changes to the way certain established features of the programme are handled.
Meanwhile, excitement is already building around the celebrity line-up for the new season.
A number of contestants have been officially confirmed, including EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, singer and Eurovision performer Delta Goodrem, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and former Love Island star Dani Dyer.
Dyer’s participation is particularly notable because she was forced to withdraw from the competition last year after suffering an injury.
Having been given another opportunity to compete, she has expressed her enthusiasm about returning to the ballroom.
The reality television personality said she was delighted to be back and looking forward to putting on her dancing shoes again.
She also joked about her previous experience, saying that she hoped she would finally be able to make it through the first week this time.
Dyer said she was extremely excited about the comeback and could not wait to discover which other celebrities would be taking part.
For Warr, the upcoming season will therefore represent both a professional opportunity and a period of personal adjustment.
Returning to the dance floor could provide a welcome focus as she navigates the end of her marriage.
Warr has built her career around dance and has established herself within the professional community before joining the BBC programme.
Her relationship with Burton, meanwhile, had been a long-standing part of her personal life.
Having met at school, the couple spent years together before getting married in 2018.
That history makes the announcement particularly significant, but Warr’s carefully worded statement indicates that the two have chosen to handle the separation privately and respectfully.
Rather than revealing the reasons behind their decision, she focused on their mutual respect and continued support for one another.
Her decision not to provide further details is also consistent with her request for privacy.
Celebrity relationships often attract considerable public attention, particularly when one or both partners are involved in popular television programmes.
However, Warr has made it clear that she and Burton do not want their personal circumstances to become the subject of further public discussion.
By describing themselves as each other’s “biggest cheerleaders”, she appears keen to stress that the end of their marriage does not necessarily mean the end of their care and respect for one another.
The announcement also comes during an important period for Strictly Come Dancing itself.
With a new presenting team, a changing professional roster and another group of celebrities preparing to take on ballroom and Latin dancing, the upcoming series is expected to look different from previous editions.
Nevertheless, the core appeal of the programme remains the same: celebrities learning challenging routines alongside professional dancers and competing week after week for the judges’ approval and the public vote.
For Warr, being part of the new series will give audiences another chance to see her professional talent after her debut last season.
While she is understandably keeping the details of her personal life private, her message suggests that she and Burton intend to move forward with dignity and mutual respect.
The couple’s decision to separate marks the end of a relationship that began during their school years and continued into adulthood and marriage.
Yet Warr has chosen to focus on the positive aspects of their shared history rather than discussing the circumstances behind their decision.
Her words also demonstrate that separation does not always have to involve conflict.
For Warr and Burton, the decision appears to have been reached jointly and thoughtfully, with both parties committed to supporting one another as they begin a new chapter.
As the new Strictly Come Dancing season approaches, attention will inevitably turn back to the ballroom.
Warr is expected to resume her professional role on the programme, while viewers will meet the latest group of celebrity contestants and see how the new presenting team settles into its roles.
For now, however, Warr has asked fans to allow her and Burton the space they need.
With their relationship ending after many years together, the dancer’s message makes clear that they hope to navigate the transition privately while retaining the respect and affection that have characterised their long relationship.
