Strictly Come Dancing star and former Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope has opened up about his family's heartbreaking battle with cancer, revealing that several of his brothers have been diagnosed with the disease. The 29-year-old, who grew up as one of 14 siblings in Hartlepool, County Durham, shared the news in a candid interview about his life and career.
Cope, who played Nicky Miligan on Emmerdale from 2022 to 2024, said the cancer diagnoses have been a 'tragedy' for his family. He did not provide further details about which brothers were affected or their current condition, but the revelation adds a deeply personal layer to the actor's story, which has seen him rise from a childhood in a bustling household to performing on the West End stage and competing on Strictly.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Cope described a chaotic but loving home with eight brothers and five sisters. 'There was never a quiet moment,' he said, recalling how his mother, a beautician, juggled running a salon from home with caring for the large family. It was his mother who first took him to a dance class, a decision that would set him on the path to stardom.
Cope's early career included a role in Billy Elliot the Musical at age 13, where he played Michael, Billy's gay best friend. He noted that he never faced bullying for wearing a dress on stage, crediting his boxing-trained brothers for providing backup. 'If anyone tried anything, I always had backup,' he said.
After Billy Elliot, Cope returned to Hartlepool and joined a local dance group, Ruff Diamond, which reached the final of the TV competition Got to Dance in 2013. He later trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and appeared in shows such as Doctors and Vera before landing his Emmerdale role. He is currently performing on the Strictly Come Dancing live tour until 15 February.
Cope spoke about the challenges of pursuing a career in the arts, including a period of self-doubt after Got to Dance. However, he emphasised the importance of hard work, inspired by his mother's example. 'If something needed effort, I was going to give everything to it,' he said.
