Lewis Cope’s dance background sparks debate on fairness in Strictly Come Dancing

Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope makes a striking debut on Strictly Come Dancing, prompting discussions over experience disparities amid his impressive performances and rapid rise in the competition.

Lewis Cope, known for his role as Nicky Milligan on Emmerdale, has quickly become a standout contestant on the latest series of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Making his television dancing debut last week, Cope and his professional partner Katya Jones impressed both judges and viewers with their energetic Jive performance to The Temptations’ classic “Get Ready.” The pair’s routine secured them joint first place on the leaderboard, a notable achievement that sparked buzz among Strictly fans and marked Cope as an early favourite in the competition.

Jones, reflecting on their debut during an appearance on the companion show It Takes Two, shared that Cope’s excitement was palpable—even sending her a text at 4.29am on performance day saying, “Why does it feel like Christmas morning?” Host Janette Manrara agreed that Cope was right to feel festive, as Strictly’s run leads into the holiday season. The judging panel, which includes notoriously tough critic Craig Revel Horwood, praised their routine highly, with Horwood marking Cope’s efforts with the approval, “Very good – darling!”

Cope’s journey onto Strictly was somewhat unconventional, as he was drafted in at the last minute to replace Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn, who withdrew on medical grounds. The actor, who joined Emmerdale in 2022, recounted receiving the invitation to join the show while walking down Oxford Street, calling the timing a blessing in disguise since it left little time for nerves to build. His enthusiasm and natural ability drew immediate praise from fans and media alike, many of whom see him as a strong contender for this year’s Glitterball Trophy.

Deeper insight into Cope’s dance background helps explain his confident performances. He made his stage debut at the age of 11 portraying Michael in the West End’s Billy Elliot: The Musical, a role that profoundly shaped his career path. Additionally, as a teenager, he performed with the hip-hop dance group Ruff Diamond, which achieved runner-up status on the Sky One dance competition Got to Dance in 2013. These experiences grant him a distinct advantage and fluency in dance that some viewers have noted throughout the competition.

However, Cope’s advanced background also ties into wider discussion around the fairness of the competition. Alongside fellow contestant Amber Davies—who replaced injured Dani Dyer—Cope’s previous stage and dance experience has drawn scrutiny. Critics, including Camilla Kerslake, wife of fellow contestant Chris Robshaw, have expressed concerns about the uneven playing field, citing the considerable gap in dance experience among competitors. Responding to this, Davies emphasised on It Takes Two that ballroom and Latin dancing are worlds apart from musical theatre, highlighting the different techniques involved.

Looking ahead, Cope and Jones are set to perform the Viennese Waltz to Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control” in the upcoming live show, continuing to build on their strong start. Strictly Come Dancing remains one of BBC One’s flagship entertainment programmes, combining star power with impressive dance showcases, and Lewis Cope appears well-positioned to remain one of the season’s most compelling participants.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
✅ The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of prior publication or recycled content. The earliest known publication date is 1 October 2025. The report is based on a recent press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The article includes updated data and original material, justifying a higher freshness score.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
✅ The direct quote from Lewis Cope, “Why does it feel like Christmas morning?”, appears to be original, with no earlier matches found online. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
✅ The narrative originates from The Independent, a reputable UK news outlet, enhancing its credibility.

Plausability check

Score:
10

Notes:
✅ The claims about Lewis Cope’s participation in Strictly Come Dancing and his performance with Katya Jones are plausible and consistent with other reputable sources. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, but this is not necessarily a red flag given the freshness of the content. The language and tone are consistent with UK English and typical entertainment reporting.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
✅ The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from a reputable outlet. The quotes are unique, and the claims are plausible and consistent with other sources. No significant credibility risks were identified.