Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope has set the dance floor alight, securing the second perfect score of the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing series during the spectacular Blackpool special.
A Night of Perfection at the Tower Ballroom
The 30-year-old actor, partnered with the professional dancer Katya Jones, delivered a show-stopping Charleston that left the judging panel and viewers at home utterly mesmerised. Performing to the indie anthem "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" by the Arctic Monkeys, the pair received a flawless score of 40, with every judge awarding a 10.
The response from the judges was immediate and ecstatic. Motsi Mabuse proclaimed the routine an incredible start to the show, highlighting the insane energy and perfect synchronisation. Shirley Ballas called it a "Blackpool extravaganza," praising the hours of work required for such synchronicity. Anton Du Beke was left speechless, simply stating the performance was "unbelievable" and "breathtaking." Even the notoriously hard-to-please Craig Revel Horwood offered a single, powerful word of praise: "Fabulous."
Fans and Rivals React to the Stunning Performance
The excitement wasn't confined to the ballroom. On social media, fans were quick to crown Cope the potential winner of the entire series. One enthusiastic viewer declared they would have given the actor a score of 110, while another described him as "freaking unbelievable."
Cope and Jones were nearly matched in their quest for top honours by former England footballer Karen Carney and her partner Carlos Gu. Their dramatic Paso Doble to "O Fortuna" earned an impressive 39 points, missing a perfect score only because Craig Revel Horwood awarded a nine, a decision that was met with boos from the audience.
A Week of Change on Strictly
The Blackpool episode also brought significant news for the competition's lineup. It was announced that Drag Race star La Voix has been forced to withdraw from the competition entirely due to an injury. As a result, the producers confirmed there would be no dance-off and no elimination this week. However, the scores and votes from the Blackpool special will be carried over and combined with next week's results, raising the stakes even higher for the remaining contestants.
The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 competition continues, with Lewis Cope firmly establishing himself as one to watch following his second flawless performance.
