Emmerdale star Lewis Cope and dance partner Katya Jones saw their Strictly dream come to an abrupt end last week – but now the actor has hinted he could soon reunited with his co-star on the dancefloor
Lewis Cope has teased a reunion with Katya Jones a week after they were brutally cut from Strictly Come Dancing. The Emmerdale star, 30, was paired with 36-year-old Russian dancer Katya for the 2025 season.
Despite being hot favourites for the 23rd season, Lewis and Katya were sent home last week after losing a dance-off against Love Island star Amber Davies and dancer Nikita Kuzmin. The rival couple were unanimously saved by judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood – sealing the fate of Lewis and Katya.
Fans of the duo may have reason to celebrate, however, as the soap actor has now hinted that he could soon reunite with his dance partner to hit the ballroom floor again. Taking to social media over the weekend, the Nicky Miligan actor laid out his plans for the future.
READ MORE: ‘Perfect’ Christmas Day dress that shoppers will ‘wear for years to come’ now £28READ MORE: Strictly’s Nikita divides viewers as he issues ‘be kind’ message over Amber
In footage showing him walking across a sun-soaked, if chilly-looking beach, the actor opened up to his fans and followers. He began: “Hello, everyone. I just thought I’d jump on here because I’ve realised I haven’t really spoke for a week.”
He continued: “So I just want to say thank you so much for the thousands of comments and messages and the love and the support. I had an absolute ball on that show, and of course, I would have loved to have been dancing again tonight. But you know that doesn’t really stand for much because I would do it every single week for the next six weeks if I could.”
Teasing a return to dancing, he continued: “Hopefully we’ll be able to dance for you again soon.” He then went on to confront negative comments that have been aimed towards Strictly and the remaining 2025 contestants.
Lewis said: “I think you know just enjoy the show and try to keep it positive and stay away from saying anything negative about anyone else because everyone’s doing the best. It’s just the TV show and they all deserve to be there. So have a lovely, lovely weekend.”
He then shared footage of himself spinning on the spot while on the beach, writing across the short video: “We got ten 10’s. I’m the 10th sibling. And it was Katya’s 10th year. If I could, I would relive it over and over again. It was my number one favourite life experience. Thank you.”
He later shared photos and video clips of himself enjoying an evening with his girlfriend, Maya Lopez. Lewis’s enchanting seaside weekend came after he faced criticism for taking part in Strictly when he had a well-documented history of dancing.
He appeared in a stage version of Billy Elliot in his youth, and went on to be a runner-up in the Sky One dance series Got to Dance back in 2013. And Lewis is not the only 2025 contestant to be targeted for his stage and dance experience.
Amber, who arguably sent him home by winning the dance off the week before, has also faced vicious comments due to the fact she has reinvented herself from a Love Island contestant to a West End star, where she makes a living dancing and singing on stage. She has been brutally trolled online, leading her dance partner, Nikita, to appeal to viewers to stop sending her hateful comments online.
On Saturday night, he declared on the BBC show: “You had so much hate every single day from the moment you joined. You had so much hate this week and yet you came every single day into the training room with a big smile, ignoring everybody.” His comments drew approval from the other contestants and dancers on the show – which is now one week away from the live grand finale – where either Amber and Nikita, Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, or Karen Carney and Carlos Gu will win the show.
