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Strictly Come Dancing: Lewis Cope’s Early Success and the Debate over Prior Dance Experience By BBC Entertainment Correspondent The start of the new series of Strictly Come Dancing has placed actor Lewis Cope at the centre of both high praise and familiar controversy. The former Emmerdale star, who joined the competition as a late addition, made an immediate impact with a technically proficient first performance alongside professional partner Katya Jones. However, his extensive background in dance, including previous professional training and a run on a televised talent competition, has resurfaced the annual debate surrounding the fairness and competitive balance within the long-running BBC show. A Sudden Call to the Ballroom Cope’s inclusion in the twenty-third series of Strictly Come Dancing was unexpected, following the necessary withdrawal of the originally cast Game of Thrones actor, Kristian Nairn, due to health issues. The urgency of the recruitment process meant Cope stepped into the high-pressure environment with minimal preparation time relative to his co-contestants. Speaking shortly after his initial announcement, the Hartlepool-born actor described the speed of his casting. “For me, it all happened within 24 hours, from the first phone call to everything—meeting producers, being in the room with one of the pros moving around to the medical test,” Cope stated, adding that the sudden turnaround “probably helped me because I haven't really had time to think about it. ” This lack of time did not appear to hinder his debut. Partnered with 2017 champion Katya Jones, the couple delivered an energetic Jive in the first week of live competition. The routine was packed with challenging choreography and earned scores in the high 20s from the judging panel.
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Critique and Defence of the Debut Despite the high score and general acclaim, the performance sparked a distinct division among the judges. While Craig Revel Horwood offered compliments on the routine's complexity, Head Judge Shirley Ballas offered a notable caveat in her critique. Ms Ballas suggested that while Cope was "destined for greatness in this competition," she did not observe the required "crash, bang, wallop" needed for a truly authentic Jive, implying the routine may have been over-choreographed to manage the actor’s existing technique. This comment drew a strong reaction from Jones. Appearing on the spin-off show It Takes Two, Jones defended the integrity of their work, stating: “There’s two sides to it. On one side, as a pro, I'd have really loved for the judges to vocalise their appreciation for what you did do, for all the steps you spent hours and hours learning. ” She added that they “never compromised on dancing,” suggesting the routine was a deliberate artistic interpretation. The Question of Prior Experience The focus on Cope’s inherent ability stems from a significant history in dance that predates his acting career. At the age of 13, Cope was cast in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, where he played the role of Michael. He later joined the hip-hop dance troupe Ruff Diamond, which finished as runner-up in the Sky One competition Got to Dance in 2013.
This background immediately positioned him as an early favourite with bookmakers, drawing comparisons to former Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, who also joined the show as a replacement contestant and went on to win the competition in 2019. The inclusion of contestants with previous professional or competitive training often fuels viewer debate, with some arguing that it provides an unfair advantage over those with no formal experience. However, analysts point out the distinction between different styles. Former professional dancer and current judge Anton Du Beke previously noted that while some experience may help, it is usually "musical theatre or commercial" dance. "It will help them a bit. There is a small advantage to it really," he said, "but ballroom and Latin are very different. " Cope himself addressed this difference, stating: “I used to be in a hip-hop dance group for a couple of years. Hip hop and ballroom are very different,” indicating the steep learning curve required to master the specific techniques of dances like the Viennese Waltz or Paso Doble. From the Dales to the Dancefloor Before joining Strictly, Lewis Cope, 30, was best known to television audiences for his role as Nicky Milligan on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale from 2022 to 2024. His performance in the role, which involved a major storyline twist revealing his character's true parentage, earned him a nomination for the Rising Star Award at the 2023 National Television Awards.
His other credits include roles in the BBC drama Doctors and ITV's Vera. Away from television, Cope hails from a substantial family in Hartlepool; he is one of 14 siblings, with his brothers predominantly pursuing careers in the boxing world. Cope opted for the arts, a choice he once referenced in a campaign with Sir David Beckham. "I'm from a family of 14. Most of my brothers are boxers, but I chose to dance," he recalled, demonstrating his early divergence from the family path. This personal history of defying expectations and embracing physical dedication—Cope is also known for maintaining a rigorous gym routine—is expected to serve him well throughout the physically demanding weeks of competition. Outlook As the competition moves into its second week, all eyes remain on Cope and Jones, who are tasked with maintaining their high standard while navigating the complex technical requirements of classic ballroom styles. Early training footage shared by Cope suggested that the fluid spinning and precise footwork of the Viennese Waltz were proving challenging, providing immediate evidence that his hip-hop background may not translate seamlessly to the elegance of ballroom. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Cope can adapt his existing talent to master the diverse disciplines of Strictly’s syllabus. While his technical prowess makes him a compelling figure in the contest, his longevity will ultimately depend on audience votes and his ability to demonstrate genuine growth, satisfying both the technical demands of the judges and the public's appetite for a genuine transformation story.
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