Katya Jones and Lewis Cope enjoy a park stroll as Strictly Come Dancing training pauses
Last‑minute addition Lewis Cope joins Katya Jones for a sunny break ahead of this season’s Strictly Come Dancing
Katya Jones and Lewis Cope were spotted taking a leisurely breather from Strictly Come Dancing training, strolling through a park in Surrey on Monday and chatting as they relaxed.
Lewis, 30, looked animated as he spoke, wearing a cream knitted jumper with loose-fitting jeans, while Katya, 36, opted for a black trench coat paired with flared trousers and chunky white trainers. The pair paused for lunch in the sun, then joked around on a bench, with Katya showing off some gymnastics tricks as they filmed a segment.
Cope joined this year’s celebrity cast at the last minute to replace Kristian Nairn after he stepped down for medical reasons, a development that prompted ongoing coverage ahead of the show’s launch. Over the weekend, viewers noted that Lewis bore a striking resemblance to TV presenter Vernon Kay, sparking social-media chatter about a possible connection or likeness.
Lewis disclosed on The One Show last month that he learned he had landed a place on the show while strolling down London’s Oxford Street with a friend. The actor bid farewell to Emmerdale in July 2024 after 18 months on the show, when his character Nicky decided to leave the village with his boyfriend Suni Sharma. Since leaving the soap, Lewis has continued to share updates about modelling work, travels with his personal trainer girlfriend, Rachel Lopez, and other projects.
The Strictly news was announced on the BBC programme just hours before Nairn’s departure was publicly confirmed. In a statement, Nairn said he was stepping back from the season due to unexpected medical reasons and apologized to fans for the disappointment. He added that he hoped to be back on his feet soon, in every sense. Nairn is best known for his role as Hodor in Game of Thrones and stands out for his height, which has been noted as a potential challenge for dance performances.
Sarah James, Executive Producer at BBC Studios, said the production team had enjoyed getting to know Kristian in the short time he was part of Strictly and offered their best wishes for a speedy recovery. The network emphasized that the show’s lineup would continue, with Lewis stepping into the cast to carry out this year’s competition alongside Jones and the rest of the contestants.