Who Is Lewis Cope from Strictly Come Dancing 2025?
Lewis Cope was announced as a last-minute replacement for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 — he’s the guy who just swapped Yorkshire drama for sequins, and honestly, he seems thrilled to be here. If you’re squinting at the name, Cope’s best known as Nicky Milligan from Emmerdale, which is basically the British soap rite-of-passage for any ambitious actor. He played Nicky for two years, getting tangled up with the famous Tate and Dingle families, and even snagged a Rising Star nomination at the 2023 National Television Awards.
A tweet by BBC The One Show announces guests Brian Cox, James Norton, and new Strictly star Lewis Cope
But here’s a fun detour: Lewis didn’t just wander onto the Strictly set. He started acting at 11, making his stage debut as Michael in Billy Elliot: The Musical — which, frankly, already puts him a step ahead in the whole “musicality and footwork” department. He’s popped up in Vera, Miss Sidhu Investigates, Hetty Feather, toured the UK with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and even did a campaign with David Beckham, just for star-adjacent bragging rights. All of that means Strictly’s shiny ballroom isn’t quite as intimidating as you might expect for the newcomer.
Why is Lewis Cope On Strictly? — The Sudden Call
Lewis Cope joined Strictly because Kristian Nairn — yes, Hodor from Game of Thrones — had to bow out for medical reasons. That’s the kind of heartbreak you wouldn’t wish on anyone, but Strictly is a live beast with a cast to fill, so the producers were hasty. Cope got the call on a Monday, while walking down Oxford Street on his way to meet a mate — and to hear him tell it, he barely had time to freak out before the excitement kicked in. I love that image, actually: a guy crossing busy London streets, phone in hand, maybe peeling off to a café to tell his friend “Guess what just happened?”
According to his own words on The One Show, that whirlwind entry was actually a blessing — “I haven’t really had time to think about it... the excitement has kind of just taken over.” There’s something endearing about an actor too busy celebrating to stress over the samba.
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The Reaction: From Dales to Dancefloor
Lewis said, plain and simple, “I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor and joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve always been a fan of the show and cannot wait to get started!”. That’s the kind of slightly starstruck fan energy Strictly thrives on. There’s no shortage of reality contestants who arrive with big talk, but Cope’s approach feels more grounded — perhaps because just days ago, he wasn’t even on the list.
And let’s be honest, his soap pedigree means he’s good at handling drama, live cameras, and frankly, the kind of wild twists (medical withdrawal! Emergency phone call! Immediate national exposure!) that Strictly is known for. I get the sense he’s both game for the challenge and also aware enough not to treat every dance as high Shakespeare.
Who Will Lewis Try to Impress (And Will He Survive?)
Lewis has openly admitted he most wants to win over Shirley Ballas, Strictly’s sometimes-fearsome head judge. That’s a human detail I love: the guy has done TV, theatre, and still feels butterflies about the most visible dance critic in Britain. Imagine practicing your waltz knowing Shirley’s eye is twitching at every missed heel turn. Oof.
As for “will he survive the competition?” — I mean, it’s Strictly. You could be a superfan, a seasoned performer, or just the person who showed up at the right moment. There are fifteen total contestants this year, from Love Island’s Dani Dyer-Bowen to Geordie Shore’s Vicky Pattison (try pairing those two in a cha-cha-cha), so Lewis faces formidable company. Personally, I like a latecomer with something to prove. He’s got soap drama stamina, musical training, and enough humility to admit he still gets starstruck — a nice antidote to the usual competitive chest-thumping
