蜜芽传媒

Lewis Cope is best known for playing Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale, a role that quickly made him a fan favourite. Born in Hartlepool, County Durham, Lewis grew up in a big and bustling household as one of 14 children, with five of his brothers following their father into boxing. Choosing a different path, Lewis pursued his passion for performance, and by the age of 11 he had already made his West End debut in Billy Elliot, playing Michael alongside Tom Holland.

As a teenager, Lewis was part of the dance crew Ruff Diamond, who reached the final of Sky’s Got to Dance and the Semi-Finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2013. He later honed his craft at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama before building an impressive stage career, appearing in productions including Richard III, Macbeth, The Night Watch and Witness for the Prosecution. His breakout television moment came in 2022 when he joined Emmerdale as Nicky Milligan. Over the next two years he appeared in 170 episodes, with his character’s struggle with identity and sexuality earning him a nomination for the NTA Rising Star Award in 2023.

Outside of Emmerdale, Lewis has appeared in Vera, Doctors and Mrs Sidhu Investigates. He was also hand-picked by David Beckham to star in a campaign for his fragrance. Away from the spotlight, Lewis has been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend Rachel for eight years and is a proud uncle to 13 nieces and nephews.

Now stepping into the Strictly Come Dancing Ballroom, Lewis says he’s ready to swap scripts for sequins. With his background in dance and a natural flair for performance, he’s excited to test himself with ballroom and Latin, admitting that while he might still be able to pull off a backflip, it’s the Foxtrot he’s most looking forward to mastering. From soaps to the Samba, he’s hoping his journey on Strictly will be one his whole family can cheer for.