Lewis Cope’s Strictly Journey: From Last-Minute Stand-In to Front-Runner

Introduction: The Unexpected Strictly Sensation

After leaving Emmerdale in 2024, Lewis Cope is currently appearing as a contestant on the twenty-third series of Strictly Come Dancing. What makes his journey particularly remarkable is that the Emmerdale actor wasn’t even supposed to be in Strictly 2025, but was cast as a last-minute replacement and is now favourite to win. In August 2025, Cope was announced as a contestant on the twenty-third series of Strictly Come Dancing, as a replacement for Kristian Nairn, who withdrew from the competition due to health issues. He is partnered with Katya Jones.

A Remarkable Start to the Competition

Lewis Cope quickly proved he belonged on the dancefloor. He’s already emerged as a potential favourite to win the Glitterball trophy, earning the first 10 score of the 2025 series in week three, with Motsi Mabuse awarding him and partner Katya Jones a perfect score for their Mask of Zorro-inspired Paso Doble. The actor continued to impress throughout the series, scoring the first perfect 40 of the 2025 series of Strictly Come Dancing, after a “spooktacular” dance.

Quarter Finals Performance

The competition reached new heights during Musicals Week in the quarter finals. Lewis Cope, 30, and his partner Katya Jones danced the salsa to Dance At The Gym from West Side Story on Saturday, December 6. Despite coming joint second with a score of 35 out of 40, Lewis received some criticism from the judges. Lewis and Katya finished Week 10 at the top of the leaderboard. They were awarded four 9s for their Rumba, and they got the top score of 6 for their Challenge dance, totalling 42. Added to their Blackpool points, they finished the night with 82.

Significance for Viewers and the Competition

Lewis Cope’s journey resonates beyond entertainment. The 30-year-old actor has maintained consistently high scores throughout the competition, demonstrating both natural talent and dedication to improvement. With the semi-finals approaching and Strictly 2025 concluding on 21 December, viewers are witnessing a compelling underdog story. His partnership with Katya Jones has produced memorable routines that showcase technical skill and emotional depth, making them serious contenders for the Glitterball trophy. Whether Lewis can maintain his momentum through to the final remains to be seen, but his unexpected journey from last-minute replacement to front-runner has already made Strictly 2025 history.