It came as the actor didn’t hold anything back during his first live performance on the hit BBC One dance show

Emmerdale star Beth Cordingly has declared her love for former co-star Lewis Cope as he performed his first Strictly Come Dancing routine.

The actor didn’t hold anything back during his first live performance on the hit BBC One dance show alongside Katya Jones on Saturday night (September 27).

The first live show of Strictly’s 23rd series kicked off with a special opening routine by all of the professionals, who danced through the biggest trends of the past four decades alongside all four of the show judges.

It was then over to the 15 new Strictly stars to show what they have got with Lewis and Katya, who had been revealed as one of this year’s couple during the pre-recorded launch show last weekend, coming out swinging with an energetic Jive to The Temptations track, Get Ready.

Lewis, who wasn’t originally part of this year’s line-up but was brought in when another contestant pulled out for medical reasons before the 2025 series got underway, was simply branded ‘very good’ by Craig, but Shirley said the jive was ‘overloaded’ with too much choreography.

After his performance, which scored 28 and left him second on the leaderboard, Lewis said: “We were trying to challenge the choreography all the time.

“I kept messaging to try and take it down a couple of levels but [Katya] was right all along.” Katya then shared: “He’s worked so, so hard. What we see in front of everybody is a product of hard work.”

Among those showing support was Lewis’ former Emmerdale co-star Beth, who plays his on-screen mum, Ruby Milligan, in the ITV soap, after he played the role of Nicky Miligan in the long-running show between 2022 and 2024.

Following his first performance on Strictly, Beth shared a video on Instagram of her cheering him on and and said: “YES @lewiscope So proud of you and not at all surprised. So hardworking, gorgeous, brilliant. Love you, you did aces. Mama Ruby X @bbcstrictly.”

Lewis, meanwhile, has had little to say so far about his opening week on Strictly, as he simply wrote alongside the first photos of him in dance action: “Was last night a dream? @bbcstrictly @katyajones.”

It comes after Lewis was asked if any of his Emmerdale co-stars will be cheering him on from the audience,, to which the 30-year-old replied: “Yes! Beth Cordingly and Will Ash, who play my parents, have both said they’re so excited to watch me.

“And Natalie J. Robb too – they’ve all been so supportive. I know they’ll be cheering from the audience!”