The glitterball dreams of Lewis Cope and Katya Jones were shattered on Sunday night as they became the latest couple to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing, missing out on a place in the semi-finals by just one week.
The Final Dance Off
Their journey ended after a tense dance-off against rivals Nikita Guzman and Amber Davies. Both couples performed again, but the judges' decision was unanimous. All four panel members chose to save Nikita and Amber, sending the Emmerdale actor and his professional partner home.
Their final performance was a vibrant Salsa set to the music of West Side Story. Despite their energetic effort, the routine had failed to capture enough votes from the public or impress the judges sufficiently during the main show, landing them in the perilous bottom two.
Judges' Praise and Public Reaction
While their time was up, judge Anton Du Beke offered significant consolation. He told the departing pair they would be remembered as "the most talented couple" never to have reached the semi-finals of the BBC competition.
The exit sent shockwaves through parts of the Strictly fanbase, with many expressing disbelief on social media. However, other viewers suggested the result was not entirely unexpected. Some had speculated that Lewis's previous dance experience may have influenced public perception, despite his own protests to the contrary.
The Background Debate
The actor's background in dance became a talking point during his stint. As a child, Lewis appeared in Billy Elliot The Musical in the role of Michael, which involved tap dance. He was also a member of the dance troupe Ruff Diamond, which finished as runners-up on Sky's Got to Dance in 2013.
Addressing claims of being a 'professional dancer', Lewis previously told OK! Magazine: "It's strange to hear that. It's been so long since I danced, and I never trained professionally. I did Billy Elliot when I was 11, but I wasn't good enough to play Billy Elliot, so I played Michael and just did some tap dance." He maintained this early experience did not give him an advantage in the ballroom.
Ultimately, on the night of December 7, 2025, the public vote did not swing in their favour, concluding their Strictly adventure a heartbreaking week before the final four were decided.
