Strictly Come Dancing star Lewis Cope has spoken out to dismiss suggestions he held an unfair advantage in the competition, following his shock exit during the show's Musicals Week. The 30-year-old actor, best known for his role in Emmerdale, was eliminated on Sunday, 7th December 2025, after a dance-off against former Love Island winner Amber Davies.
Addressing the 'Professional' Controversy
In the lead-up to his departure, Cope found himself defending his place on the BBC One show after his background in musical theatre came under scrutiny. Some viewers argued that his past stage work gave him an edge over other contestants. However, in a recent interview with The i Paper, Cope firmly rejected the label of being a professional dancer.
"I've done no training as a dancer. I'm definitely not a professional," he stated, adding that he saw the accusations as "a bit of a compliment." He pointed out that contestants with performance experience have always been part of the show's format.
A Modest Stage History
Cope elaborated on his early career to underline his point. He revealed that while he appeared in Billy Elliot The Musical, he did not land the lead role. "I wasn't good enough to play Billy, so I played his mate Michael – I did one tap dance on stage, that was it," he explained.
His subsequent dance experience consisted of being part of an amateur hip-hop crew with friends from his hometown of Hartlepool for a couple of years. He emphasised that his formal training was a three-year acting course, which led to his television roles.
The Final Dance and Farewell
For Musicals Week, Lewis and his professional partner Katya Jones performed a Salsa to 'Dance at the Gym' from West Side Story. While the routine won praise from many watching at home, the judges' scores indicated it wasn't his strongest performance, leaving him vulnerable.
After losing the dance-off, an emotional Cope thanked the show and his partner. Speaking to host Tess Daly, he said: "It's been more than I could have ever wished for... It's been incredible and a memory that I'll have for the rest of my life." He paid a heartfelt tribute to Katya Jones, crediting her for being an incredible teacher and friend.
The competition now moves forward with the four remaining couples: Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, and Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon. They will compete next week for a place in the grand final. Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.35pm and Sunday at 7:45pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
