Lewis Cope has been tipped to win this year’s Strictly Come Dancing by former pro Ola Jordan.
The Emmerdale actor, 30, made his Strictly debut during last weekend’s launch show and is gearing up for his first live performance this Saturday.
Ola, who danced on the BBC show for nine years, has now hedged her bets on Lewis taking home the Glitterball Trophy. This is despite some viewers feeling disgruntled after learning he has a strong background in dance.
Ola, 42, told Mecca Bingo that she believes his dance experience could actually go in his favour. The ex Strictly pro said: “My early prediction for who will win Strictly Come Dancing this year is Lewis Cope, who’s partnered with Katya Jones.
“They already look great together on the dance floor, and I know Lewis has had some dance training. Plus, Katya is an amazing teacher, so for me, they will win.”
Ola also believes former Doctor Who and ER actress, Alex Kingston, 62, and RuPaul Drag Race’s La Voix, 45, stand a good chance of making it to the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final.
She added: “Close behind them, I’d say Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe and La Voix with Aljaž Skorjanec. I know that’s three couples, but that’s the order I see them finishing in.”
Strictly Come Dancing 2025 odds
According to bookmaker Grosvenor Sport, odds are also on Lewis to triumph at Strictly. He is currently sitting at 9/4 to win the series. The actor is followed by social media star George Clarke, 25, and reality star Vicky Pattison, 37. They have identical odds of 5/1.
Sitting at the bottom is TV showbiz reporter Ross King, 63. Grosvenor Sport has his odds of winning sitting at 100/1. Just behind him is 39-year-old former rugby union star, Chris Robshaw, with odds of 80/1. Retired footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, has odds of 50/1.
Ola is in agreement. She added: “As for who I think will be the first to be eliminated, it’s likely to be either Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley, or Ross King and Jowita Przystal.
“Not far behind, I’d expect Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell, and Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden to be eliminated fairly early on as well,” she said, delivering a blow.
What dancing has Lewis Cope done before?
Lewis was starring in London’s West End by the age of 11. He was cast as Michael, Billy’s best friend, in Billy Elliot: The Musical.
A year later, Lewis returned home to County Durham and later joined street dance group, Ruff Diamond. They went on to become runners-up on Sky’s Got To Dance in 2013. He told Luxe: “Those were the moments that were eye opening for me, where I thought maybe this could be a career.”
As part of Ruff Diamond, Lewis danced in front of Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, the Pussycat Doll’s Kimberly Wyatt, and JLS star Aston Merrygold. The group even appeared on Children in Need alongside the cast of EastEnders.
The group went on to be crowned UK Hip Hop Champions twice and represented Britain in the World Hip Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas.
Who is Ola Jordan?
Ola starred as a professional dancer on Strictly from 2006 to 2015. In 2009, the she won the series with her celebrity partner, Chris Hollins. Ola has since described her win with the sports commentator as “the best achievement ever”.
Ola was born in Poland. She has been married to professional dancer, James Jordan, since 2003. Strictly Come Dancing fans will also recognise James from the show. He joined Strictly in the same year as his wife, before bowing out in 2013.
The couple are parents to daughter Ella, who was born in February 2020. James and Ola run their own fitness and weightless company called Dance Shred.
When is Strictly Come Dancing on?
Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 6.55pm this Saturday September 27. Although viewers won’t get to vote for their favourites, the judges – Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood – will be scoring the Week 1 dances.
There will be no dance off or elimination this weekend, meaning no Sunday Results show. The judges’ scores will be carried over to Week 2, when the public vote will also open for the first time.
Read more: Strictly Come Dancing’s Dani Dyer quits: The BBC show’s most tragic and unexpected exits
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