Lewis Cope Steps In as Strictly Star After Kristian Nairn Withdraws
Big news has come out of the world of Strictly Come Dancing. Just days after the full celebrity line-up was announced, Kristian Nairn, the Game of Thrones actor best remembered for playing the gentle giant Hodor, has had to withdraw from the show. His departure was confirmed after he revealed he’s been struggling with what he described as “a high level of stress and a little bit of grief.” Unfortunately, those personal challenges began to affect him physically, showing up in his health checks, and his doctors advised that he should step back.
Nairn, who’s also known as a house music DJ and for his role in the comedy-drama Our Flag Means Death , had spoken honestly on Instagram. He explained that while he had always tried to power through tough times in the past, this was the first occasion when stress actually manifested in his body, leading to concerns about his vitals. Although he reassured fans that he’s undergoing treatment and is expected to feel much better in a few weeks, the timing simply won’t allow him to take part in the intense training that Strictly demands. With genuine disappointment, he admitted how gutted he felt, saying he had been looking forward to the challenge and the joy of being part of the Strictly family.
But the show must go on, and in an exciting twist, Lewis Cope, best known to TV fans for his role as Nicky Milligan in Emmerdale , has been announced as his replacement. The 29-year-old actor shared how the news reached him quite suddenly—while he was walking down Oxford Street in London. He admitted that the short notice might actually be a blessing, because he hasn’t had much time to overthink it. Instead, the excitement has taken over, and he’s diving straight into rehearsals with enthusiasm.
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Cope brings with him a wide range of experience. Aside from his role in Emmerdale , which earned him a nomination for the Rising Star Award at the National Television Awards, he’s appeared in shows like Vera , Hetty Feather , and Mrs Sidhu Investigates . On stage, he’s impressed audiences as Leonard Vole in the Olivier-nominated Witness for the Prosecution and even made his West End debut as a child in Billy Elliot: The Musical . With that kind of background, it seems he’ll bring both dramatic flair and stage presence to the Strictly dance floor.
Producers of Strictly have expressed their sadness at losing Nairn but also their excitement in welcoming Cope, who joins a diverse cast of celebrities this year. As always, the show promises sparkle, drama, and plenty of surprises when it returns to BBC One and iPlayer this September.
So, while fans will no longer get to see Hodor swap his medieval furs for sequins, they’ll now have the chance to watch a rising star in Lewis Cope step into the ballroom spotlight. And if his passion is anything to go by, he might just turn into one of this season’s most talked-about contestants.
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