Emmerdale actor joins Strictly Come Dancing line-up after star quits BBC show
Actor Lewis Cope has been confirmed as the latest addition to this year's Strictly Come Dancing line-up.
The Emmerdale actor will be stepping in for DJ and actor Kristian Nairn on the BBC One dance show, who unfortunately had to withdraw due to health issues.
Lewis will be joining a star-studded cast including Dani Dyer, Alex Kingston, Balvinder Sopal, George Clarke, Chris Robshaw and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey on the forthcoming series, set to kick off in September.
The announcement was made on Thursday's (21 August) episode of The One Show, where hosts Roman Kemp and Clara Amfo welcomed Lewis into the studio to share his enthusiasm about joining the roster.
The Vera actor disclosed that he was out with a mate when he received an unexpected call from BBC executives inviting him to join Strictly on Monday, and he immediately agreed to participate, reports Devon Live.
When questioned about being a last-minute addition to the line-up, Lewis responded: "I think if anything it's helped me, because I haven't really had time to think about it or anything. The excitement has kind of just taken over. It's probably better for me."
Lewis also expressed his eagerness to impress head judge Shirley Ballas on the BBC programme and hopes to be partnered with a professional dancer who will "push" him.
Television viewers may recognise Lewis as Nicky Milligan from ITV's Emmerdale, but he's also appeared in ITV's Vera, Mrs Sidhu Investigates and Hetty Feather. He's also graced the stage in theatre productions, including the West End's Billy Elliot: The Musical.
Kristian, known for his role in Game of Thrones, issued a statement on Thursday confirming his departure from Strictly due to "unexpected medical reasons".
In an emotional announcement, the actor expressed: "With a heavy heart, I have to step back from this season of Strictly Come Dancing due to unexpected medical reasons.
"I was truly looking forward to the journey, and I'm deeply sorry to disappoint anyone who was looking forward to seeing me on the dance floor."
He concluded his message by saying: "Thank you all for your support, and I will be back on my feet very soon, in every sense. Love to all, Kristian."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
I'm A Celebrity bosses 'are lining up Emmerdale star Lisa Riley as the first star to enter the famous jungle for the new series'
Emmerdale star Lisa Riley is reportedly being lined up as the first star to take part in this year's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! The actress, 49, has played Mandy Dingle on the legendary soap for 30 years, making a bombshell return to the village six years ago. Now, sources are claiming that Lisa is in advanced talks with bosses to move into the Australia jungle when the show returns in November. The soap star has made it no secret that she is a fan of the show, meaning she could follow in the footsteps of many Dales favourites such as Danny Miller, Gemma Atkinson and Adam Thomas by taking part in the show. A source told The Sun: 'Lisa is the perfect celebrity for the show because not only is she from a soap watched by millions she's one of its biggest characters and it's an ITV show to boot. 'She also has a naughty, mischievous sense of humour which is guaranteed to get a big response from her other celebrity campmates during their time in the jungle. 'Lisa is by no means the first star from Emmerdale to have gone on I'm a Celebrity and those that do always tend to get a great response from viewers at home.' Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Lisa Riley and I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! for comment.. Lisa, who turns 50 next year, previously shared her hopes of taking part in the show, saying: 'I'm A Celebrity... is something I would do before I turned 50 as a test for myself.' Last year's series saw McFly's Danny Jones crowned series champion, beating a star-studded lineup that included Coleen Rooney, Maura Higgins, GK Barry and Reverend Richard Coles. However, the married singer has since courted controversy, as in March he was filmed sharing a drunken kiss with his campmate Maura. Lisa first joined the cast of Emmerdale as Mandy Dingle in 1995, but left the soap six years later. She went onto land a string of other roles including Fat Friends and Waterloo Road, and in 2013 she competed on Strictly Come Dancing. 18 years after her soap exit, Lisa returned to Emmerdale, admitting that after being asked about reprising her role for years by fans, she finally realised she never had a reason not to return. She said: 'I'm the type of person that must have an answer, I can't leave anything open ended. 'I was working for Strictly in doing a Q and A and there were 4,000 people asking me when I was going back to Emmerdale. But I've had that since the day I left.' Earlier this month, it was reported that ITV were planning to keep I'm A Celebrity on screens for the next five years, bringing the show up to a landmark 30th series. Sources claimed ITV have opened talks with Australian bosses to secure the area of jungle where they film until 2030.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and Waterloo Road stars sign up as fan-favourite hit drama lands SIXTH series
Series six of All Creatures Great and Small is set to feature lots of big names FAMILIAR FACES Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and Waterloo Road stars sign up as fan-favourite hit drama lands SIXTH series Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALL Creatures Great and Small is making a return to screens this autumn, and it's set to feature some familiar faces. Chris Gacoyne from Coronation Street, Philip Martin Brown from Waterloo Road and Lucy-Jo Hudson from Hollyoaks are three of the latest cast members revealed in the lineup for the sixth series. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Chris played Peter Barlow in Corrie Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 6 You may know Lucy-Jo as Donna-Marie Quinn in Hollyoaks Credit: Channel 4 6 Philip Martin Brown was once the well-known English teacher, Grantly Budgen, in BBC drama series Waterloo Road Credit: BBC The period drama, based on James Herriot's beloved books, has amassed millions of viewers across the UK and US after first airing back in 2020. Series six will take viewers back to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales for more heartwarming tales, but this time the scenario the Skeldale gang find themselves in is entirely different. The cast shall exist in 1945, just as the war in Europe is coming to a close. On their way back to Darrowby, they will discover veterinary advancements, expanded families and, hopefully, a future filled by more brightness and peace. Many of the programme's fan-favourites will be continuing their stories, including Nicholas Ralph in his role as devoted vet James Herriot. Samuel West (Siegfried Farnon), Anna Madeley (Mrs Hall), and Rachel Shenton (Helen Herriot) will also be back under the spotlight. Though the stellar acting history of All Creatures Great and Small's new additions is bound to bring something flavourful. Lucy-Jo recently took to Instagram to gush about her new role. "So remember when I got a job I was beyond excited about earlier this year? Well this was it... All Creatures Great and Small. "And I have been stepping into a world of countryside charm and storytelling magic. All Creatures Great and Small viewers break down in tears at Christmas special as they say 'my heart was in my mouth' "I am finally able to share this with you. The scenery was out of this world, and it was a dream to be working with such a wonderful bunch of people." As well as these three new faces, Gaia Wise from The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, and Jonathan Hyde from Titanic have been revealed as part of the lineup. Viewers in the UK can expect the show to be available on 5 this autumn, but fans based in the US will be able to enjoy it on PBS in early 2026 - and there's going to be a Christmas special. 6 Lucy-Jo sports a short brunette hairdo as Susan in All Things Great and Small Credit: Helen Williams 6 The Aldersons and Herriots are promient families in the show Credit: Helen Williams
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Emmerdale star Lisa Riley 'in talks' to join I'm A Celebrity 2025 line up
Lisa Riley's name is being dropped into the mix as one of the possible contenders for this year's series of I'm A Celebrity. A soap star traditionally takes part in the show every year Emmerdale favourite Lisa Riley is being lined up to swap the Dales for the Australian jungle later this year, with reports suggesting she is in advanced talks to take part in the next series of I'm A Celebrity. Riley, 49, is best known for playing Mandy Dingle in the ITV soap, which is a role that she first took on in 1995. Over the last three decades she has been at the heart of some of Emmerdale 's most dramatic storylines and won the hearts of viewers. While she left the soap in 2001 to pursue other projects including Fat Friends, Waterloo Road, and Loose Women, she made a triumphant return to Emmerdale in 2019. Now, producers of I'm A Celebrity are said to be eyeing her up as one of the first names for the 2025 series. A TV insider told The Sun: "Lisa is the perfect celebrity for the show because not only is she from a soap watched by millions she's one of its biggest characters and it's an ITV show to boot. "She also has a naughty, mischievous sense of humour which is guaranteed to get a big response from her other celebrity campmates during their time in the jungle. Lisa is by no means the first star from Emmerdale to have gone on I'm a Celebrity and those that do always tend to get a great response from viewers at home." So far, eight Emmerdale stars have entered the jungle since the show launched in 2002, including Lucy Pargeter, Adam Thomas and Gemma Atkinson. Former cast member Danny Miller even went on to win the show in 2021. Riley herself has expressed an interest in taking part in the reality show for a while now. Earlier this year, she said: "I'm A something I would do before I turned 50 as a test for myself." However, she admitted to having some concerns over the more daunting trials, confessing that she could handle eating challenges but adding: "I could never ever do the mice and the rat box." Her potential signing would follow the tradition of soap stars taking part in the ITV jungle hit. Coronation Street actors have been regulars on the series alongside Emmerdale alumni. Antony Cotton competed in 2011, while Helen Flanagan became infamous in 2012 for being voted to face seven consecutive Bushtucker Trials. Most recently, Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Dobbs) entered the jungle in 2017. Speculation is also currently mounting that Corrie star Adam Hussain could join the 2025 line-up after quitting the cobbles earlier this year. The Mirror have contacted ITV for comment. Meanwhile, when it comes to life in the Dales, soap fans are worried that Riley's character Mandy Dingle might be in danger, as the actress recently posted a photo from the set of Emmerdale featuring a body double. One fan expressed their concerns on social media, writing: "Not good if there's a stunt woman, it means Mandy is in trouble."
