Strictly’s Katya Jones and Lewis Cope lead the stars stepping out for rehearsals ahead of the Blackpool ballroom special – after getting cosy on fish and chip date

by

Lewis Cope from Strictly Come Dancing and his partner Katya Jones were among the first to arrive for rehearsals before the show’s famous Blackpool special.

The 30-year-old actor and the 36-year-old professional dancer left their hotel, bundled up for warmth, and went to rehearsal.

Katya smiled for the cameras as she walked to her taxi, wearing a long grey coat, a black faux fur scarf, and boots.

Meanwhile, Lewis opted for a black jacket over a green hoodie and grey joggers.

Following behind was pregnant Dianne Buswell, who appeared in great spirits, leaving the hotel. 

Vito Coppola, Neil Jones, and Carlos Gu were also seen exiting, and Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon were having a serious conversation in the taxi.

This news follows a day after Lewis and Katya were seen enjoying a friendly outing together in Blackpool.

The actor and dancer seemed happy and relaxed as they enjoyed a meal of fish and chips.

Lewis recently spent time with his girlfriend, Rachel Maya Lopez, and was seen out in chilly British weather. He dressed casually, wearing a navy coat over a matching shirt and pants.

Katya bundled up in a long grey coat, adding a black fur scarf and sturdy, lace-up boots to complete her outfit.

The couple strolled around the popular beach area, where Lewis was seen with his arm around Katya, who was resting her head on his shoulder.

The two friends shared a laugh while enjoying chips at the fish and chips counter.

Katya and Lewis were filming in Blackpool for a BBC show, taking in the sights before their competition on Saturday night.

This follows Lewis sharing his girlfriend Rachel’s honest opinion of his ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ partner, Katya, after they received the show’s first perfect score earlier this month.

The Emmerdale actor received a perfect score of 40 alongside his professional dance partner, Katya, who has been linked to the ‘Strictly curse’ in the past.

But Lewis has now revealed that the curse, and Katya, are not a concern for him and Rachel.

Lewis confessed his girlfriend is accustomed to him sharing intimate moments with others, having kissed people in his acting roles both in movies and on stage.

He credited Pilates instructor and dancer Rachel as his greatest source of support, and he says concerns about the ‘Strictly curse’ have never been discussed between them.

He told The Sun that because he’s kissed many people for his acting roles over the years, his partner is actually used to him kissing other men, and it’s never been an issue.

‘Katya and Rachel have all met, it’s never been a conversation between us.’

He shared that Rachel has been incredibly supportive throughout the process, always believing in him. She goes above and beyond, even packing him lunch for rehearsals and making sure he’s well taken care of.

Lewis wowed the judges with his couple’s choice dance, earning the first perfect score of 40 this season. He performed to a fast-paced remix of Radiohead’s “Creep.”

Lewis grew up in Hartlepool as one of 14 children. He moved to London at the young age of 10 to focus on a career in performing, and often feels homesick, particularly missing his grandmother, Nanna Dot.

It comes after Lewis hit back at accusations he is a professionally trained dancer.

Lewis stepped in to join Strictly Come Dancing when Kristian Nairn, known for his role in Game of Thrones, had to pull out because of an injury.

The announcement of his casting caused controversy when it was revealed he’d been dancing since age 10, and even performed in ‘Billy Elliot’ in London’s West End, during an appearance on a BBC program.

I’ve been a huge fan for years! Before becoming well-known, he was a key member of Ruff Diamond, an amazing street dance crew. They were incredible on Sky TV’s Got to Dance, actually finishing as runners-up – they really deserved to win, honestly!

Lewis strongly denied claims that he’s a professional, calling them strange and disrespectful to those who actually are professionals on the show.

He told Metro he wasn’t sure how the idea that he was a dancer originated. He explained that while he trained as an actor and did some dancing as a teenager, he hasn’t danced since.

He admitted that being called a professional dancer felt strange, particularly since he was now working alongside true professionals on the show.

Honestly, it feels disrespectful to them to even imply I’m as skilled, considering how much of their lives they’ve devoted to mastering their craft.

Oh my gosh, you guys, did you hear Lewis talking about his past? It was amazing! He revealed that when he was eleven, he was actually in Billy Elliot on the West End stage! Can you believe it?! He said it was totally connected to his life, which is just… perfect. While his brothers were all into boxing, he was up there dancing! It explains so much, honestly. I always knew he had hidden talents!

When he was only 18, he took to the stage with Ruff Diamond and performed for the judges on the show Got to Dance – Ashley Banjo, Kimberly Wyatt, and Aston Merrygold.

Ruff Diamond performed on Children in Need, shared the stage with the cast of EastEnders, and won the UK Hip Hop Championships on two separate occasions.

The group even represented the UK at the 2013 World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas.

At age 20, Lewis departed from Ruff Diamond in 2015 to pursue acting studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, a highly respected institution.

In 2022, he began playing Nicky Miligan on Emmerdale. He left the show in July 2024 as his character moved away with his partner, Suni Sharma.

Read More

2025-11-21 15:19