Strictly Come Dancing Faces Fix Claims After Actor Lewis Cope's Dance History Revealed

Lewis Cope, an actor known for his role on Emmerdale, has joined the 2025 series of "Strictly Come Dancing" as a last-minute replacement for Kristian Nairn, sparking controversy due to his extensive dance background. He began dancing at age 10, performed in the West End production of Billy Elliot, and was part of Ruff Diamond, a hip hop dance group that competed on Sky TV's "Got to Dance" and represented the UK at international championships. Fans have expressed mixed reactions, with some praising his skills and predicting his victory, while others criticize the show for perceived unfairness due to his prior dance experience. Despite the criticism, professional judges and former contestants have noted that prior dance experience does not guarantee success, as improvement over time is crucial. Lewis’s pairing with former champion Katya Jones has only heightened expectations for his performance. The debate around his participation highlights ongoing tensions about the fairness of celebrity dance competitions when contestants have varying levels of prior dance training.