Strictly Come Dancing viewers all say the same thing about Emmerdale star Lewis Cope during launch show

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As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following the buzz around the new season of Strictly Come Dancing, and I have to say, viewers were immediately struck by how much one of the contestants, Lewis Cope, looks like a well-known TV personality! It was a hot topic of conversation during Saturday’s launch – a lot of people were doing double-takes!

On the recent episode of the popular BBC show, actor Lewis, age 30, danced with professional Katya Jones, 36. He filled in as a last-minute replacement for Kristian Nairn.

As the celebrities chatted with hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly on the famous ‘Strictly’ sofa, viewers noticed a striking resemblance in contestant Lewis.

Many people on social media have noticed a strong resemblance between Lewis and Tess Daly’s husband, Vernon Kay, who is 51 years old.

People have repeatedly commented that Lewis bears a strong resemblance to Vernon Kay, with some even initially mistaking him for the television presenter.

Someone else playfully suggested they might be family, writing: ‘Seriously, this guy has to be related to Vernon Kay somehow.’

Lewis shared on The One Show last month that he found out he was cast in the show while walking down Oxford Street in London with a friend.

The actor left the soap opera Emmerdale in July 2024 after playing his character, Nicky, for a year and a half. Nicky’s storyline involved him leaving the village with his partner, Suni Sharma.

Since finishing his role on the soap opera, Lewis has frequently posted photos of himself-both shirtless and from professional modeling gigs-and shared updates from his travels with his girlfriend, Rachel Lopez, who is also his personal trainer.

You won’t believe who I’ve become friends with! A few years back, David Beckham actually reached out to me. He wanted me to be in the commercial for his ‘Bold Instinct’ fragrance, and honestly, he’s just as lovely a person as you’d imagine. It was such a fun experience, and he’s a genuinely nice guy.

The news about Strictly Come Dancing was announced on the BBC program shortly after Kristian revealed he had to leave the new season due to health issues.

The 49-year-old actor and DJ announced with sadness that he’s leaving this season of Strictly Come Dancing because of a sudden health issue.

I was really excited about this trip, and I’m so sorry to let down anyone who was hoping to see me dance.

I’m so grateful for everyone’s support, and I’m hoping to be fully recovered and back to normal very quickly. Sending love to you all, Kristian.

Kristian, famous for his role as Hodor in Game of Thrones, is very tall – six feet ten inches – and was concerned about how his height might affect his dancing.

He admitted it would be a tough physical challenge, but he was excited to take it on. He described the opportunity as both strange and amazing, joking that it felt like he was finally getting rid of a clumsy side.

Sarah James from BBC Studios said they were very impressed with Kristian during his brief time on the show and believe he had the potential to be a fantastic contestant on Strictly Come Dancing. They are disappointed he has to leave the competition and wish him a quick recovery.

He explained his departure in a video posted to Instagram, starting with, “Hey everyone, I hope you’re doing okay.”

I apologize for speaking at length – it feels a little like giving a wedding speech! For those who recently started following me, hello and I hope you’re doing well!

Let’s be direct: I’m just going to be honest with you. I don’t like putting on a show or being fake. I always try to keep it real with everyone, and I hope those who have followed me for a while can say the same.

As many of you know, I was thrilled to be asked to join Strictly Come Dancing. However, I’m very sorry to say that I have to pull out of the show this year. I wanted to explain the reason why, and I’m grateful for all the support I’ve received.

Like many people right now, I’ve been feeling really stressed and honestly, a bit sad. I’ve always been someone who pushes through difficult times, and I’ve relied on that strength throughout my life, especially when it comes to things like this.

I usually handle stress well, or at least I thought I did. But this time, it’s actually affected me physically, causing my heart rate and other vital signs to jump, and it’s led to a worrying situation.

I’ve always been a larger person, so I prioritize my health and visit the doctor regularly. I had a check-up about two weeks before the show, and everything was good, so my doctor gave me the okay to participate.

Just wanted to let you know I’m doing alright and receiving treatment. My doctor says things are looking good, and I should be back to normal in about two or three weeks.

I’m really disappointed, but I won’t be able to participate in the show right now. With training and everything else, the timing just doesn’t work. Plus, I don’t want to leave you and the other contestants in a difficult position – it wouldn’t be fair to everyone involved.

I’m really disappointed to have to withdraw, as I was excited to be involved. Thankfully, the people on the show have been incredibly supportive and understanding, and I truly appreciate their kindness.

Let’s just wait and see how things develop after I get things organized. For now, I’m going to rest, but I expect to be back at work soon.

I was really looking forward to this, both for my own sake and to represent the wonderful people of Northern Ireland. It’s always been important to me to show where I come from and how proud I am to be from Northern Ireland. I apologize if I didn’t meet expectations, but I promise to keep giving my all.

Things are really challenging right now, so please prioritize your well-being. Pay attention to your mental and emotional health. This situation is new for me, and honestly, it’s been quite a shock. I always believed I was better prepared to handle anything.

It was great meeting all of you fellow contestants, even though our time together was short. You’re a wonderful group, and I’m excited to see what you all accomplish!

It’s hard to say what’s next, but I’m still here, working on things as best I can, and always striving to improve. Everything’s under control, so don’t worry!

I truly love and appreciate each and every one of you for being with me on this journey. Thank you for all of your continued support, and a special welcome to those who have recently joined – I’m so grateful for you all.

He finished by saying, “Just relax and enjoy the show, and thank you all for your incredible support – it means a lot.”

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2025-09-21 00:05