He’s the handsome Emmerdale star who had the nation glued to their screens every Saturday night, wowing judges and viewers alike with his sizzling salsa moves and cheeky grin on Strictly Come Dancing.

But just when it seemed Lewis Cope was destined for glitterball glory, disaster struck in one of the most shocking eliminations in the show’s history – booted out in the quarter-finals despite being a red-hot favourite.

Now, in a triumphant comeback that’s got fans cheering, the 30-year-old actor has revealed he’s landed a major new acting gig – his first big role since that heartbreaking exit from the BBC ballroom.

Lewis, best known for playing village bad boy Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale, took to Instagram this week to tease the exciting project, posting a cryptic behind-the-scenes snap from set with the caption: ‘Back to what I love… more soon!’

Sources close to the star tell the Daily Mail that offers have been ‘flooding in’ since his Strictly stint, with producers desperate to snap up the newly-minted heart-throb who’s proved he can command the screen both in soap drama and under the sparkle of the Strictly lights.

‘Lewis is over the moon,’ an insider dished. ‘Strictly opened so many doors for him. He’s always been a talented actor – remember, he started in Billy Elliot the Musical as a kid – but the exposure from the show has taken things to another level. This new role is something completely different, and he’s throwing himself into it.’

The revelation comes just weeks after Lewis and his professional partner Katya Jones, 36, were sensationally voted off in Musicals Week, despite scoring near-perfect marks and regularly topping the leaderboard.

Fans were left in tears – and outright rage – when the pair landed in the dance-off against Love Island winner Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin, only for the judges to save Amber.

‘ROBBED!’ screamed one devastated viewer on X (formerly Twitter). ‘Lewis and Katya were the best couple this series. How on earth did this happen?’

Another fumed: ‘Strictly has lost all credibility. Lewis was a finalist in waiting. Gutted doesn’t cover it.’

Even Katya struggled to hide her emotion in the post-elimination interview, tearfully telling Claudia Winkleman: ‘I’m so proud of Lewis. He’s come so far.’

Lewis himself admitted the axe felt like a ‘punch to the gut’. In a candid chat on It Takes Two, he said: ‘We were flying high – two perfect 40s under our belt. To go out at that stage… yeah, it stung. But the support from everyone has been overwhelming.’

But true to form, the Yorkshire-born star hasn’t let the setback keep him down for long. And with good reason – his Strictly journey turned him from solid soap actor into a bona fide national treasure.

Let’s rewind a bit. Lewis burst onto our screens in Emmerdale back in 2022 as Nicky, the nanny with a dark secret – turns out he was hired to seduce Gabby Thomas as part of a twisted revenge plot. Drama doesn’t get much soapier!

Off-screen, he’s just as intriguing. The openly gay actor has been praised for bringing authentic LGBTQ+ representation to the Dales, with his character’s storyline tackling everything from coming out to toxic family dynamics.

But before Emmerdale, Lewis was no stranger to the spotlight. At just 11 years old, he made his professional debut in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical – dancing alongside the likes of Elton John’s tunes. Talk about starting at the top!

He later trained at the prestigious Arts Educational Schools in London, honing his triple-threat skills in acting, singing and dancing. Little did he know those dance lessons would come in handy years later on the Strictly floor.

When Lewis was announced as a late addition to the 2025 Strictly lineup – stepping in after Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn withdrew due to health issues – fans were thrilled.

Paired with fiery Russian pro Katya Jones, the chemistry was instant. Their steamy Argentine Tango in Blackpool scored a perfect 40, with Craig Revel Horwood – yes, CRAIG – gushing: ‘Darling, that was ferocious!’

Shirley Ballas called him ‘a revelation’, while Motsi Mabuse declared: ‘You move like you’ve been dancing your whole life!’

Head judge Anton Du Beke even tipped him for the final, saying: ‘Lewis has that star quality. He’s got it all.’

Week after week, Lewis delivered. His charming personality shone through in the VT packages, where he opened up about his journey from musical theatre kid to soap villain.

‘I never thought I’d be here,’ he admitted in one emotional clip. ‘Strictly has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way.’

And the public loved him for it. Voting lines lit up every week, with Lewis rarely in danger – until that fateful Musicals Week.

Their Grease-themed Couple’s Choice was electric, complete with leather jackets and high-energy lifts. They finished joint second on the leaderboard. How could they possibly be in the bottom two?

Insiders say it was a classic case of ‘complacency voting’ – fans assuming Lewis was safe and not picking up the phone.

The dance-off was nail-biting. Lewis and Katya reprised their routine flawlessly, but the judges – perhaps swayed by Amber’s West End credentials – chose to save her.

Craig explained: ‘It was incredibly close, but I have to go with technical precision.’

Fans weren’t having it. #SaveLewis trended for hours, with thousands accusing the vote of being ‘fixed’.

One wrote: ‘Lewis Cope robbed on Strictly is the biggest injustice since Aston Merrygold!’

Another added: ‘Katya’s face said it all. They were finalists material. BBC, sort out your voting system!’

Even fellow celebs weighed in. Former Strictly champ Rose Ayling-Ellis posted: ‘Heartbroken for Lewis and Katya. You were magic together.’

But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about Lewis Cope, it’s that he’s a fighter. Just days after the elimination, he was spotted rehearsing for the Strictly Live Tour – yes, he’s reuniting with Katya for the arena spectacular starting later this month.

‘Can’t wait to dance with this one again,’ he posted alongside a sweaty rehearsal selfie with Katya.

And now, this new acting role. While details are under wraps – Lewis is keeping schtum to avoid spoilers – whispers suggest it’s a gritty drama series, possibly on a major streaming platform.

‘It’s a complete change of pace from Emmerdale,’ our source reveals. ‘No village drama this time – think darker, more intense. Lewis is ready to show he can do serious acting too.’

The timing couldn’t be better. With Emmerdale bosses reportedly keen to keep him, but his schedule opening up post-Strictly, Lewis is in the enviable position of having his pick of projects.

‘Strictly has changed everything,’ the insider adds. ‘He’s got that glow now – the public adore him. Brands are circling, scripts are piling up. This is just the beginning.’

Lewis himself seems philosophical about the elimination. In a recent interview, he said: ‘Of course it hurt, but everything happens for a reason. Strictly gave me confidence I didn’t know I had. And now, doors are opening left, right and centre.’

He’s also been inundated with messages from fans – many of them rather thirsty. ‘The DMs!’ he laughed. ‘Let’s just say Strictly has been good for the ego.’

Single since splitting from his long-term partner last year, Lewis has been linked to a few famous faces – though he’s keeping coy.

‘I’m focusing on work right now,’ he teased. ‘But who knows what 2026 holds?’

One thing’s for sure: after that shock exit, Lewis Cope is back – and bigger than ever.

As one fan put it: ‘From robbed on Strictly to ruling the acting world. King behaviour!’

We can’t wait to see what’s next for this rising star.