The glitter, sequins, and sharp moves of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing are back for the 2025 season, and if the launch episode is anything to go by, this year’s competition has already set tongues wagging and bookmakers scrambling. As the fifteen celebrity contestants met their professional dance partners for the first time on September 21, viewers and oddsmakers alike were quick to call out early favorites and potential drama—proving that, when it comes to Strictly, the action isn’t just on the dance floor.
Emmerdale’s Lewis Cope, aged 30, made his much-anticipated debut on Saturday’s launch show and, in a matter of minutes, became the talk of social media and betting circles. Paired with the ever-charismatic Katya Jones, Cope’s initial performance—though brief—was enough to send fans into a frenzy, with many predicting he could be the one to lift the coveted Glitterball trophy this year. According to The Independent, viewers were so impressed that one declared, “I’m going to call it now: Lewis Cope will win,” echoing a chorus of similar predictions across various platforms.
But what’s behind this sudden surge of confidence in Cope? For starters, he’s no stranger to the stage. The actor, who joined Emmerdale in 2022 as Nicky Milligan, has a rich background in dance and performance. He previously starred as Michael in the West End production of Billy Elliot, a musical centered on a young boy’s journey to become a ballet dancer. That’s not all—Cope was also a member of the hip-hop troupe Ruff Diamond, which finished as runners-up in the 2013 season of Sky One’s Got to Dance. Judge Kimberly Wyatt even called their audition “the best of the series,” a testament to Cope’s dance credentials.
This experience, however, hasn’t come without controversy. Some Strictly viewers have grumbled that Cope’s professional background gives him an unfair advantage over contestants with little or no dance experience. One fan described his admission of prior training as “a cardinal sin.” Still, just as many fans leapt to his defense, arguing that talent and hard work should be celebrated, not penalized. “Unfortunately I won’t take any Lewis Cope hate,” one viewer wrote, while another added, “On the basis of that group dance, everyone needs to be VERY afraid of Lewis Cope’s jive next week.”
It’s worth noting that Cope’s journey to the Strictly ballroom was a last-minute twist. He stepped in after Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn withdrew from the competition on medical grounds. Cope himself admitted the late entry may have worked in his favor, telling The Independent, “I think, if anything, it’s probably helped me because I haven’t really had time to think about it or anything so now the excitement has kind of just taken over. I think it’s probably better for me.”
The bookmakers seem to agree with the public’s enthusiasm. As reported by Manchester Evening News, leading betting firms such as Paddy Power currently have Cope as the odds-on favorite to win, with odds of 12/5. Hot on his heels is Love Island winner Dani Dyer, partnered with Nikita Kuzmin, whose odds stand at 7/2. The rest of the top five include model Ellie Goldstein (6/1), social media personality George Clarke (9/1), and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey. Meanwhile, former rugby ace Chris Robshaw and Lorraine showbiz correspondent Ross King are considered the least likely to win, both with odds of 100/1. In fact, Ross King is the bookmakers’ favorite to be the first eliminated, with odds of 5/2, closely followed by Robshaw at 3/1.
The launch show also revealed the full roster of partnerships for the season. Alongside Lewis and Katya, other notable pairings include Dani Dyer with Nikita Kuzmin, Ross King with Jowita Przystal, Chris Robshaw with Nadiya Bychkova, and Drag Race UK’s La Voix with Aljaz Skorjanec. The list continues with Vicky Pattison and Kai Widdrington, Alex Kingston and Johannes Radebe, Ellie Goldstein and Vito Coppola, Balvinder Sopal and Julian Caillon, Karen Carney and Carlos Gu, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Lauren Oakley, George Clarke and Alexis Warr, Stefan Dennis and Dianne Buswell, as well as Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden.
Speaking of Thomas Skinner and Amy Dowden, their pairing has already become a focal point for viewers, though perhaps not for the reasons either might have hoped. Skinner, a former Apprentice contestant, is known for his boisterous personality and love of hearty breakfasts—a fact that became a talking point during the launch. When asked by host Claudia Winkleman about his ideal pre-dance meal, Skinner replied, “The best breakfast. We’re going down Deano’s cafe, nice and early, before we get started, get spicy Korean noodles, with chicken breasts and poached eggs and a little bit of Tabasco sauce. Or, if you don’t fancy that, we can have the sunshine chicken curry with the round chips.” Amy’s less-than-enthusiastic reaction didn’t go unnoticed, with one viewer posting a screenshot of her expression and commenting, “Amy Dowden’s face speaking for everybody at the same time… #Strictly #TomSkinner.”
Speculation about friction between the pair quickly took off online. Some fans worried that the mismatch in personalities might spell trouble for their chances in the competition, while others suggested that Amy’s popularity could help Skinner last longer than expected. According to The Independent, Dowden herself addressed the chatter, publicly praising Skinner and downplaying any suggestion of discord.
Elsewhere, the betting odds and fan predictions have sparked plenty of debate about fairness and the role of experience in the competition. While some argue that the likes of Cope and Dyer, both with performance backgrounds, have a leg up, others point out that Strictly has a long history of surprises—where underdogs have gone on to win, and early favorites have stumbled. The group dance, which saw all fifteen celebrities take to the floor for the first time, offered only a glimpse of what’s to come. Next week, the real competition begins, and as any seasoned Strictly fan knows, anything can happen once the music starts and the judges weigh in.
Strictly Come Dancing airs weekly every Saturday and Sunday on BBC One, promising a season filled with unexpected partnerships, dazzling routines, and plenty of drama—both on and off the dance floor. With early favorites already emerging and a cast of characters as varied as ever, this year’s Glitterball trophy is still very much up for grabs.
As the spotlight intensifies and the stakes get higher, all eyes will be on Lewis Cope, Dani Dyer, and the rest of the contestants to see who can truly dance their way into the nation’s hearts—and who might be waltzing off the floor before they’ve had a chance to shine.
