Katya Jones says Lewis Cope’s West End past could hinder Strictly bid as row over eligibility heats up
Jones argues Cope’s musical theatre training may complicate training, despite his West End credentials
Katya Jones says Lewis Cope’s West End past could hinder their Strictly Come Dancing bid as a row over his eligibility intensifies ahead of the new series. In the latest edition of Radio Times, Jones said: "I think everyone’s aware that Lewis can move and I’m looking forward to turning him into a ballroom dancer." She added: "But his musical theatre experience might be a hindrance. Unlearning habits is harder than blank-canvas learning."
Cope, 30, has West End credits including Billy Elliot the Musical, where he played Michael in 2008, and he reached the final of Sky’s Got to Dance in 2013 as part of a hip-hop troupe that finished as runners-up. He has downplayed that period, saying it was "just tap dancing" that he had to master. The Emmerdale actor is currently the favourite to lift the Glitterball trophy, with bookmakers pricing him at 3/1.
The actor says his move from musical theatre to ballroom work is a challenge he is ready to meet. "The first call came on a Monday. By the Wednesday I’d agreed to do it, and on the Thursday I was on The One Show announcing it," he recalled of his sudden entry into the BBC dance show after a last-minute casting decision.
Since that West End stint, Cope has transitioned to screen and stage roles, including appearances in Doctors, Vera and Hetty Feather, and stage credits such as Macbeth, Witness for the Prosecution and Richard III. In 2022 he landed the role of Nicky Miligan in ITV’s long-running soap. His Strictly entry came after Game of Thrones actor Kristin Narin was forced to pull out on medical grounds, prompting a late scramble to fill the cast.
The debate over contestant eligibility on Strictly has flared before; in 2023 it emerged that Angela Scanlon trained with the O’Shea Irish Dance Company and performed professionally, underscoring long-running questions about who should be eligible to compete. Cope’s background has fueled discussions among fans and bettors about how past training translates to Strictly’s ballroom format, even as he remains a front-runner in the wagering at around 3/1.
Jones has acknowledged the tension between Cope’s experience and the show’s requirements, emphasizing that the partnership will focus on translating early-stage technique into championship-level ballroom work. As the pair prepare for upcoming weeks, the industry will watch whether Cope’s history in theatre and on screen helps or hinders his path to the Glitterball Trophy.