STRICTLY Come Dancing star Lewis Cope has hit back at ‘bizarre’ pro dancer accusations he has received since signing up to the show.
From the very first episode of this year’s season of Strictly, Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope has been embroiled in professional dancer claims.
Strictly’s Lewis Cope has slammed the ‘bizarre’ pro dancer accusations he has been hit with[/caption]
The Emmerdale hunk is paired with Katya Jones in this year’s season[/caption]
The BBC show has been thrust into a fix row ever since Lewis’ prior experience was revealed.
The soap hunk has been dancing since the age of 10-years-old and previously competed in a dancing world championship final three times.
And on Saturday night, he even topped the leaderboard after receiving the first 10 of the series – from Motsi – for his Paso Doble.
But he’s now hit back at the “professional” claims saying: “I don’t really know where all that came from, to be honest.
“I trained as an actor, I danced a bit when I was a teen, but haven’t since. It’s only ever really been acting for me for a long, long time – so I don’t really know where that came from,” he said in an interview with Metro.
He went on to add: “I don’t really take notice of it though – everyone’s so strong, and anyone can pull out a brilliant performance at any point.
“To call me professionally trained or a professional dancer seems a bit bizarre, especially now that I’m working with these pros on the show.
“It’s kind of an insult to them, really, to suggest I’m on their level when they’ve dedicated their lives to becoming as brilliant as they are.”
Lewis previously spent eight years in the dance group, Ruff Diamond who were runners up in Sky TV’s Got to Dance competition.
When he was 18-years-old, Lewis found himself performing in front of judges Ashley Banjo, Kimberly Wyatt and Aston Merrygold.
The group also appeared on Children in Need where they danced
with the cast of EastEnders and they were twice voted as UK Hip Hop Champions.
They also represented the UK at the 2013 World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas.
Lewis quit Ruff Diamond in 2015 at the age of 20 so he could study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
When he first appeared on Strictly and chatter about his prior experience began to accelerate, fans were quick to react.
On Saturday night they danced the Paso Doble[/caption]
They were dressed up to the nines for Musicals Week[/caption]
Reacting to Lewis’ prior dancing experience, one fan said back in September: “I need lewis to stop pretending he’s not a trained dancer.”
“Another Billy Elliot ex-pro dancer. tut tut,” penned a second.
A third then wrote: “Just give lewis the trophy now. He looks the part without seeing him move.”
This comes after the Strictly spoiler leaked online after the live show last night.
The Sunday night results show, although presented as live, is actually filmed on Saturday night after the main live show.
This means that every year, the results leak online.
The contestants in the bottom two and therefore the dance-off have been revealed as well as how the judges’ voted.
The Sun will not reveal the identity of those in the bottom two, nor give away clues, but we have included some fan reaction below.
Reacting to the bottom two, one person said on X: “Right decision but shocked my the other person in the bottom two….”
Another person penned: “Snd this is exactly what happens when you undermark someone with so much potential.”
They continued saying how they were “genuinely fuming” that the celebrity was “even in the dance off at all especially this early”.
A third said: “Blimey, that’s a shocker, one deffo doesn’t deserve to be in the bottom two.”
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup
Strictly Come Dancing news and the latest line up
- Nitro from Gladiators AKA Harry Aikines-Aryeetey will be using his athletic prowess to try to win over the judges.
- Doctor Who and ER star Alex Kingston will be adding some drama.
- Chris Robshaw, former Harlequins and England rugby captain will be tackling the dance floor.
- EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, who plays Suki Panesar, has moved from Walford to the ballroom.
- Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis has landed on the show from Down Under.
- George Clarke, a YouTube star, will also be showing off his moves.
- Love Island winner Amber Davies joined as a last minute replacement after Dani Dyer pulled out with injury.
- La Voix is the first drag star to join the main series
- Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink swaps is football boots for dancing shoes.
- Ellie Goldstein is the first contestant with Down’s Syndrome to take part.
- Thomas Skinner is swapping the boardroom for ballroom dancing.
- I’m A Celeb winner Vicky Pattison has been announced.
- Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope was announced as the last contestant after Game Of Thrones star Kristian Nairn pulled out of the show before the launch date over medical reasons.
