FURIOUS: Strictly Come Dancing ISSUES STATEMENT to address controversy as CONTESTANT’S professional dancing past is EXPOSED

Close up side profile of Lewis Cope on BBC's The One Show

Strictly Come Dancing’s newly announced contestant, Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope, has an advantage before he even takes to the dancefloor as he already has plenty of professional dance experience. He has replaced Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn and was revealed on The One Show just hours after the 49-year-old actor and DJ withdrew from the show citing medical reasons.

The show made no attempt to hide his dancing background discussing his time in Billy Elliot The Musical, in which he appeared opposite Hollywood star Tom Holland, but his experience extends far beyond that. He began dance classes when he was just 10-years-old after trying out a number of sports. “My mum was really supportive,” he recalled. Just a year later, he bagged the role of Michael, in Billy Elliot. “I moved to London on my own and lived in ‘The Billy House’, which housed all the kids from the show,” he said recalling the experience. “We were young kids in our first jobs but had so much fun.”

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman sitting on a sofa in the Strictly come Dancing studio

After a year in the show he moved back home and joined the street dance group Ruff Diamond who were runners up in Sky’s Got To Dance in 2013. At the age of 18, he headed to drama school where he received further training.

His background didn’t go unnoticed by fans of the show who took to X to question his participation in the BBC Saturday night staple.

“So #Hodor’s replacement in #Strictly is a pro dancer who has been in #BillyElliot,” one observed. “Kristian Nairn has withdrawn from #Strictly for health reasons and been replaced by… #LewisCope …someone with professional training who has been in #BillyElliot where he was a professional singer and DANCER,” another pointed out.

However a third was simply struck by the fact Emmerdale cast seem to be the go to when a celebrity drops out of the programme. “Kind of love that #Strictly #StrictlyComeDancing have used a 2nd #Emmerdale star as their reserved celeb following Kelvin Fletcher in 2019. Lewis Cope was brilliant as Nicky in #Emmerdale and he’ll attract really good appeal on the show. I’m excited to watch him every week.”

Close up of Lewis Cope

Despite his dance accomplishments the 30-year-old, is best known for his role in ITV’s Emmerdale as Nicky Milligan. He revealed he only got the call to join Strictly on Monday August 18.

“I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor and joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. I’ve always been a fan of the show and cannot wait to get started!” he said.

Asked which of the four judges he was hoping to impress, he didn’t hesitate in his answer. “Shirley (Ballas), just because she seems to be very particular on technique and all of that.

“So if I can manage to learn some of the technique, then I think that would be a nice achievement for me,” the former soap star said following his announcement.