Strictly Katya Jones says Lewis Cope's dance past hinders competition chances

Katya Jones, a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, has addressed claims that her partner, Lewis Cope, has an unfair advantage due to his previous dance experience, including performing in Billy Elliot on the West End and being a finalist on Sky's Got to Dance in 2013. Jones argues that Cope's musical theatre background might actually hinder their progress, as unlearning ingrained habits can be more challenging than learning from scratch. Cope downplays his past dance credentials, noting that his tap dancing role in Billy Elliot was 19 years ago and that he hasn't danced in recent years. Despite his experience, some fans have questioned the fairness of his participation, though both Jones and Cope reject the idea that the competition is fixed. The pair seem to have a strong connection, with Jones sharing moments of bonding with Cope's family and expressing enthusiasm about their partnership on social media. Cope joined the show last minute, replacing Kristian Nairn, and the duo are preparing for their debut in the live shows starting September 27, 2025.