Strictly Come Dancing star Lewis Cope has addressed criticism over his previous dance experience live on air during an appearance on ITV’s Loose Women.
Appearing on the daytime show on Wednesday morning alongside his dance partner Katya Jones, the Emmerdale actor was asked about his past dance background. Lewis’s experience includes performing in *Billy Elliot The Musical* on the West End as a child and later competing in amateur hip-hop competitions.
**Lewis Cope Addresses His Previous Dance Experience**
After inquiring about the pair’s upcoming dance for the week—a tango—panellist Mariella Frostrup commented, “The only downside, I imagine, is people poking at you for having been a dancer before. Did that kind of scratch under the surface, or has it been helpful?”
Lewis responded, “Not really. It’s been a long time since I’ve danced, and I did, like, one show when I was 11, which was about 20 years ago.”
Jumping in on Lewis’s behalf, panellist Charlene White added, “But one thing it’s done is it’s meant that you’ve been able to have that concentration, which of course, as Katya said, has been incredible. We wish you the best of luck.”
**Katya Gushes About Lewis’s Dancing**
Katya Jones, who has been dancing on the show since 2016, shared what it’s like working with Lewis.
“Who knew when I got partnered up with Ed Balls in 2016 doing Gangnam Style that I’d still be sitting here!” she joked. “Yeah, my tenth year, my tenth partner and he’s sibling number ten as well so there’s a lot of alignment. I’m really, really lucky to be partnered with someone like you,” Katya continued.
When Mariella asked if she ever knows when she has a “dud” partner, Katya feigned shock before replying, “Never! In my rehearsal room or in my presence, never. I truly, truly believe that anybody can learn to dance to their level.”
That said, she’s thrilled with her current partner’s ability. “This year, I’m able to perform as a professional to the standard,” she said. “Lewis, I asked you last Saturday, ‘I want to get into your brain, to your mind, because it’s quite spectacular.’ The way he listens and computes and is able to translate it into his body immediately and stay so focused—nothing distracts him. I’ve never, ever felt so secure going onto the dancefloor every Saturday.”
**Lewis and Katya’s Strictly Journey**
Lewis and Katya have impressed the *Strictly* judges throughout the competition, topping the leaderboard on Halloween Week after earning the first perfect score (40) of the series.
This Saturday, they’ll perform a tango to “12 to 12” by Sombr.
https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/867121/strictly-lewis-cope-addresses-previous-dance-experience/