![\"Lewis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2_LDBR_MEN_281125_Lewis.jpg\")
Lewis also thanked Katya for having his back on the show(Image: BBC )<\/p>\nEmmerdale actor Lewis Cope admits taking part in the BBC dance show was ‘tough’ on his actress girlfriend as he opens up about his connection with Katya Jones<\/p>\n
Mitya Underwood Senior Celebrity & Royal Writer<\/p>\n
10:25, 09 Dec 2025Updated 10:38, 09 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
Lewis also thanked Katya for having his back on the show(Image: BBC )<\/p>\n
Lewis Cope <\/a>has shared further insight into his brutal elimination from Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> and revealed the toll it’s had on his girlfriend.<\/p>\n The star released an emotional statement about his time on the BBC<\/a> dance show and admitted the experience was “tough” on his girlfriend of eight years.<\/a> The 30-year-old Emmerdale<\/a> actor became the latest celebrity to leave the show<\/a> after losing the judges’ vote in the dance off on Sunday night’s show.<\/p>\n Katya was left in floods of tears and said she’d finally found a partner who could ‘match’ her in Lewis.<\/p>\n Hartlepool-born Lewis has now opened up about his time on the show, calling his pro partner Katya Jones<\/a> “extraordinary, strong, bold, funny, intelligent” and his 11 weeks on the series a “life changing experience” that will stay with him forever – but also admitted it “has been tough” on his girlfriend Rachel Lopez<\/a>.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Home Bargains fans say new \u00a36 handbag reminds them of chic designer French brand<\/a> “I am so proud of us and I wouldn’t change a thing,” he said of his partnership with Katya, 36. “Your strengths rubbed off on me and we were a solid team. We always had each others back. You taught me how to embrace new emotions I was scared to, brought me out my shell and have ultimately changed me. I didn’t just fall in love with dance, I fell in ln love with life again.”<\/p>\n Lewis and Rachel have been together for around eight years but don’t make regular red carpet appearances, choosing instead to spend their free time traveling and exploring. She has been a regular fixture in the audience at the live shows and regularly updated her social media followers on Lewis’s progress.<\/p>\n In his Instagram<\/a> post, Lewis wrote: “This show has brought me so much joy and I’m glad we could share the joy with you. There are so many moments that will live with me forever and I am so grateful I was lucky enough to experience them. Hartlepool, my family I will never not be grateful for the love I have received.”<\/p>\n He continued, “@rachmayalopez I know this experience has been tough but you have been there every step of the way with love. You are a diamond, I love you so much!”<\/p>\n On his new friendship with Katya, who first lifted the glitterball with Joe McFadden in 2017, Lewis added: “From the moment I met you I knew something special was about to happen.<\/p>\n “We clicked, the energy aligned, our values connected and we knew we were going to give this our best shot. You handled this unknown experience for me with grace and kindness and it has created the most beautiful, heartwarming memories.”<\/p>\n Lewis and Katya were favourites to win for much of the series<\/a>, but lost out in the dance-off against Amber Davies<\/a> and Nikita Kuzmin<\/a> to become the ninth couple to leave the show.<\/p>\n On Monday night’s It Takes Two, Katya broke down in tears several times as she said that she blamed herself for Lewis’ exit.<\/p>\n * Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, YouTube<\/a> and Threads<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Lewis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_lewis-copeJPG.jpg\")
Lewis admits his Strictly experience was ‘tough’ on girlfriend Rachel(Image: Lewis Cope )<\/p>\n![\"Katya](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4_Strictly-Come-Dancing-2025.jpg\")
Katya was emotional in their final moments on the series(Image: PA)<\/p>\n