Lewis Cope has opened up about his girlfriend’s opinion of his Strictly Come Dancing partner, Katya Jones, following their achievement of the first perfect score of the season.

The 31-year-old Emmerdale star and his professional dance partner, Katya, dazzled audiences on Saturday night, earning a flawless 40. Katya has been associated with the notorious “Strictly curse” in the past, but Lewis is unconcerned about any such potential drama.

Cope has shared that neither the curse nor his dynamic with Katya is a worry for him or his girlfriend of seven years, Rachel Maya Lopez.

As an actor who has had on-screen and stage romances, Lewis noted that Rachel is accustomed to seeing him in intimate scenes with others.

He affectionately referred to Rachel, a Pilates instructor and dancer, as his “biggest supporter,” adding that the topic of the Strictly curse has never been an issue for them.

In a conversation with The Sun, Lewis remarked, “Throughout my career, I’ve had to kiss many people on stage or on-screen, and Rachel is quite used to it. I’ve even kissed boys, but it’s never been a problem for us.”

Lewis Cope has revealed what his girlfriend Rachel Maya Lopez (pictured together) really thinks of his Strictly partner Katya Jones after the pair scooped the first perfect score of the series

The Emmerdale actor, 31, scored a perfect 40 on Saturday night’s show with his pro partner Katya – who has previously been a victim of the infamous Strictly curse

‘Katya and Rachel have all met, it’s never been a conversation between us.’

He added: ‘Rachel has supported me all the way, she is my biggest supporter, she sends me into rehearsals with a packed lunch, she really looks after me.’

Lewis blew the judges away as he received the first 40 of the series for his couple’s choice dance to a quick version of Radiohead’s Creep.

Reflecting on growing up in Hartlepool with his 13 siblings, Lewis left home at just 10 years old to live in London and pursue his career in performing as he admitted he often misses his family, especially his Nanna Dot.

And sure to make his family proud Lewis and his partner Katya Jones brought the house down with the incredible performance full of twists and tricks. 

Leaving Motsi Mabuse on her feet, Craig Revel Horwood deemed the performance ‘Spooktacular’ while Motsi added it was ‘out of this world’. 

Meanwhile Shirley Ballas was moved to tears as she thanked his family for letting Lewis follow his dreams and share his talent with the nation. 

Anton Du Beke added it was the best of the series by a ‘million miles’ and he couldn’t have done anything to make it better.  

But Lewis has now revealed that the curse, and Katya, are not a concern for him and his girlfriend-of-seven-years Rachel

But Lewis has now revealed that the curse, and Katya, are not a concern for him and his girlfriend-of-seven-years Rachel

He doesn’t often get his 10 paddle out, but even Craig gave the pair a 10 as they achieved the first full marks of the series. 

It comes after Lewis hit back at accusations he is a professionally trained dancer.  

Lewis joined Strictly at the last minute after Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn withdrew due to injury. 

His cast announcement sparked fix claims after he confessed he had been dancing since the age of 10 – even landing a role in Billy Elliot in London’s West End – during a pre-recorded segment on the BBC show.

He also previously spent eight years with the elite street dance crew Ruff Diamond, who were runners-up on Sky TV’s Got to Dance. 

But Lewis hit back at the accusations he is a professional, branding the claims ‘bizarre’ and saying it’s an insult to the real professionals on the show. 

Speaking to Metro, he said: ‘I don’t really know where all that came from, to be honest, I trained as an actor, I danced a bit when I was a teen, but haven’t since.’

He added: ‘To call me professionally trained or a professional dancer seems a bit bizarre, especially now that I’m working with these pros on the show. 

Lewis blew the judges away as he received the first 40 of the series for his couple’s choice dance to a quick version of Radiohead’s Creep

‘It’s kind of an insult to them, really, to suggest I’m on their level when they’ve dedicated their lives to becoming as brilliant as they are.’ 

Previously speaking about his dance experience in a Strictly segment, Lewis said: ‘When I was 11, I was in Billy Elliot in the West End, which was quite relevant to my life. So my brothers were boxing and I was dancing.’ 

At just 18 years old, he performed in front of Got to Dance judges Ashley Banjo, Kimberly Wyatt and Aston Merrygold with Ruff Diamond.

Ruff Diamond also appeared on Children in Need, danced alongside the EastEnders cast, and was crowned UK Hip Hop Champions twice.

The group even represented the UK at the 2013 World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas.

Lewis left Ruff Diamond in 2015, aged 20, to study acting at the prestigious Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

He joined the cast of Emmerdale in 2022, playing Nicky Miligan, and bid farewell to the Dales in July 2024 when his character left the village with his boyfriend, Suni Sharma.