Lewis Strictly Come Dancing – Profile of the 2025 Star
Lewis Cope became one of the most talked-about contestants of Strictly Come Dancing 2025. The British actor, best known for playing Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale, joined the show as a late replacement and went on to produce some of the highest-scoring routines of the series.
Paired with professional dancer Katya Jones, Cope earned the series’ first 10 score in week three, scored a perfect 40 twice, and reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated.
Before Strictly, Cope had already built an unusual career path — a childhood stage debut in Billy Elliot: The Musical, a runners-up finish on Got to Dance, and a two-year role in one of Britain’s best-known soaps.
Who is Lewis Cope?
| Full Name | Lewis Cope |
| Known For | Actor (Emmerdale), Strictly Come Dancing 2025 contestant |
| Strictly Partner | Katya Jones |
| Notable Claim | Praised as one of Strictly’s best male dancers |
- Lewis Cope is an actor from Hartlepool best known for playing Nicky Milligan on Emmerdale.
- He took part in the twenty-third series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2025.
- He joined the line-up as a late replacement for Kristian Nairn.
- His professional partner was Katya Jones.
- Their partnership produced the first 10 of the series and two perfect scores of 40.
- He was eliminated in the quarter-finals in week 11.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | Hartlepool, County Durham |
| Age | 30 in 2025 coverage |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Notable Role | Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale (2022–2024) |
| Stage Debut | Michael in Billy Elliot: The Musical, at age 11 |
| Dance Background | Ruff Diamond, runners-up on Got to Dance (2013) |
| Strictly Series | Series 23 (2025) |
| Strictly Partner | Katya Jones |
| First 10 | Week 3, Paso Doble |
| Perfect Scores | Halloween special and Blackpool |
| Elimination | Week 11, quarter-finals |
Cope’s route to television was gradual. Wikipedia describes him as a British actor best known for playing Nicky Milligan on Emmerdale. He made his stage debut at 11, later appeared in shows including Doctors and Vera, and landed his Emmerdale role in 2022.
Hello Rayo notes that he is from Hartlepool and was 30 years old in the 2025 coverage. His role as Nicky Milligan made him a familiar face to soap viewers. A closer look at Lewis Cope’s Emmerdale Role explains how the character became so closely associated with him.
What is Lewis Cope’s Strictly Come Dancing journey?
How did Lewis Cope join Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
Cope was announced in August 2025 as a late replacement on Strictly Come Dancing series 23. He stepped in after Kristian Nairn withdrew for health reasons.
Who was Lewis Cope’s Strictly partner?
His professional partner was Katya Jones, with Cosmopolitan’s line-up coverage naming the pair among the confirmed couples. The partnership was widely described as strong, with multiple reports highlighting their chemistry and consistently high scores.
How far did Lewis Cope make it on Strictly?
Cope and Jones earned the first 10 of the series in week 3 with a Paso Doble. They then went on to score perfect 40s later in the series: the first in the Halloween special and another in Blackpool.
They were eliminated in the quarter-finals in week 11 after a dance-off loss to Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.
Week 3 brought the first 10 of the series. The Halloween special delivered the first perfect 40 of the competition, and Blackpool produced a second perfect score before the quarter-final exit.
Does Lewis Cope have a girlfriend?
Multiple reports identify Cope’s girlfriend as Rachel Lopez, also named in some coverage as Rachel Maya Lopez. She has been described as a personal trainer from Dublin, while other reports describe her as an actress who occasionally appears in stage productions or short films.
The pair have reportedly been together for around six to eight years, keep a low public profile, and often travel together. Cope has described her as his “biggest supporter”, telling reporters she helped him through Strictly rehearsals, including sending him to the studio with a packed lunch.
Cope credited his girlfriend as his “biggest supporter” during the competition. He said she supported him through rehearsals and made sure he had lunch before heading to the studio.
Is Lewis Cope the Billy Elliot dancer?
The connection between Lewis Cope and Billy Elliot is real, but it is easy to overstate. Cope did not play the title role. He made his stage debut at age 11 as Michael, Billy’s best friend, in Billy Elliot: The Musical.
The role gave him early grounding in musical theatre. His later work with the dance troupe Ruff Diamond, which reached the final of Got to Dance in 2013, added to that performance background.
Lewis Cope was not Billy Elliot in the musical. His stage debut came as Michael, Billy’s best friend, when he was 11.
What are the key dates in Lewis Cope’s career so far?
The main milestones run from his early stage work to his Strictly exit.
- — Ruff Diamond finishes runners-up on Got to Dance.
- — Cope joins the cast of Emmerdale.
- — He plays Nicky Milligan.
- — He leaves Emmerdale.
- — He is announced as a late addition to Strictly Come Dancing 2025.
- Week 3, 2025 — The Paso Doble earns the first 10 of the series.
- Halloween special, 2025 — The pair score the first perfect 40.
- Blackpool, 2025 — A second perfect 40.
- Week 11, 2025 — Cope is eliminated in the quarter-finals.
What is confirmed about Lewis Cope and what remains unclear?
The core facts about Cope’s career are well established. Some details about his private life and future plans are less clear.
| Established | Remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Lewis Cope was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing 2025, confirmed by the BBC and multiple news outlets. | Cope has not made a detailed public statement about his private life; what is known comes largely from reports. |
| He is from Hartlepool and was 30 years old in the 2025 coverage. | His exact date of birth is not widely published. |
| He played Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale from 2022 to 2024. | Reports describe his girlfriend differently — as a personal trainer from Dublin and, elsewhere, as an actress in stage productions or short films. |
| His dancing was highly praised, with two perfect scores of 40 before his week 11 exit. | Whether he will return to Emmerdale or take on new acting projects has not been announced. |
Why did Lewis Cope’s Strictly run attract so much attention?
Cope’s Strictly appearance came after his departure from Emmerdale in 2024. That timing gave him a high-profile platform at a moment when he was moving beyond soap opera. His early work in Billy Elliot: The Musical and Got to Dance made him an unusual contestant, with a performance background that stretched back to childhood.
His pairing with Katya Jones was consistently praised. Katya Jones paid tribute to Cope after their exit, and Cope discussed the partnership during the series in an interview with 1883 Magazine. Some coverage referred to him as a former Emmerdale actor, although some reports noted his acting career was still relatively early.
His exit in the quarter-finals, despite two perfect scores, became one of the talking points of the 2025 series.
What have sources and critics said about Lewis Cope?
The strongest praise for Cope came from iNews, which assessed his dancing in the context of the show’s history.
“If Lewis Cope isn’t the best dancer Strictly has ever had, he is certainly the best male dancer.”
iNews, December 2025
The BBC Strictly profile introduced him primarily through his soap work.
“Lewis Cope is best known for playing Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale.”
BBC Strictly profile
Wikipedia frames his Strictly appearance as the next chapter after his soap exit:
“After leaving the series in 2024, he appeared as a contestant on the twenty-third series of Strictly Come Dancing.”
Wikipedia
What does Lewis Cope’s Strictly story tell us?
Lewis Cope arrived on Strictly as a replacement and left as one of the most praised dancers of the 2025 series. His run produced the first 10 of the competition, two perfect scores, and an exit that sparked more debate than almost any other result. He remains a fixture in coverage of the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 Contestants, with his next move in acting and performance still unannounced.
Frequently asked questions about Lewis Cope
How old is Lewis Cope?
Cope was 30 years old in 2025 coverage. His exact date of birth has not been widely published.
Does Lewis Cope have Instagram?
Yes. His Instagram account is @lewiscope.
What is Lewis Cope’s height?
His height has not been publicly listed.
Was Lewis Cope on Emmerdale?
Yes. He played Nicky Milligan on Emmerdale from 2022 to 2024.
Who did Lewis Cope dance with on Strictly?
He was partnered with professional dancer Katya Jones for the 2025 series.
Why was Lewis Cope eliminated from Strictly?
He lost the week 11 dance-off to Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin and was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
What role did Lewis Cope play in Billy Elliot?
He did not play Billy Elliot. He made his stage debut at age 11 as Michael, Billy’s best friend, in Billy Elliot: The Musical.
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