Strictly’s Katya Jones fires back at judge to defend Lewis Cope against ‘harsh’ comments

Strictly?s Katya Jones fires back at judge in defence of Lewis Cope Credit BBC
Katya Jones had things to say after Lewis Cope was criticised this weekend (Picture: BBC)

Strictly Come Dancing professional Katya Jones leapt to the defence of her partner, Lewis Cope, after receiving criticism this weekend.

The Russian pro, who has been part of Strictly since 2016 and lifted the Glitter Ball once, has been paired with Emmerdale actor Lewis, 30, this series in a fan-favourite duo.

It’s safe to say Lewis and Katya, 36, have impressed the Strictly judges each week with their routines, even scoring a 10 for their Movie Night paso doble.

However, week 4 saw judge Anton Du Beke offer some advice, which Katya was quick to fire back at.

Following their foxtrot, for which they received a standing ovation in the studio, Anton told the couple: ‘What a song! What a dance! I could talk to you for 10 minutes, but I’ve got no time.

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‘Beautiful. Movement, beautiful; the feel was gorgeous, smooth… all the beautiful things you want from a foxtrot. Musicality, stylisation, characterisation… great.’

Strictly?s Katya Jones fires back at judge in defence of Lewis Cope Credit BBC
The Strictly couple were told they need to be more ‘together’ (Picture: BBC)
Strictly?s Katya Jones fires back at judge in defence of Lewis Cope Credit BBC
Katya was keen to defend her celeb partner (Picture: BBC)

‘I want you to work on this part of dancing,’ he then instructed. ‘You’re dancing with Katya; I want you to dance together. And it’s quite different.

‘I want your arms to be more receptive to her.

‘You’ve been told to put your frame up; you put your frame up. You’ve been told to put your posture up, so you put your posture up.’

Reminding Anton where those remarks initially came from, Katya responded: ‘You told us! You told us to fix the elbows!’

‘I promise you, I want you to do that,’ Anton countered, assuring the pair that he’s on their side.

‘But now I want you (Lewis) to say, “I’m doing this, not on my own anymore, but with a partner.”

Strictly?s Katya Jones fires back at judge in defence of Lewis Cope Credit BBC
Anton Du Beke said he doesn’t want to ‘contradict himself’ with his comments (Picture: BBC)
For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only BBC handout photo of Lewis Cope and Katya Jones during their appearance on the live show of Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing show on BBC1. Issue date: Saturday October 18, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.
Lewis and Katya topped the leaderboard once again with their foxtrot, earning 34 points (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)

‘So I want you to envelop her (Katya) in your frame. I want you to stand beautifully, but more naturally.

‘I don’t want to be a contradiction, because there’s not much you need to do.’

As for the rest of the judges’ comments, Craig Revel Horwood said Lewis probably ‘put too much power or energy into some of the moves’. Still, he praised the performer for having ‘musicality in abundance’.

Motsi Mabuse also complimented Lewis for ‘taking on’ the advice she’s given, while Shirley Ballas pointed out the ‘lovely footwork’ and declared that the routine was ‘first class’.

Lewis and Katya ultimately scored 34 points, including two nines, sending them soaring up the leaderboard, with Katya full of praise for her celeb partner afterwards and how much she ‘loves’ dancing with him.

But over on social media, viewers had plenty to say about Anton’s feedback, defending Katya.

For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only BBC handout photo of Lewis Cope and Katya Jones during their appearance on the live show of Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing show on BBC1. Issue date: Saturday October 18, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.
Viewer praised the Russian pro’s ‘exquisite’ choreography (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
For use in UK, Ireland or Benelux countries only BBC handout photo of Lewis Cope during their appearance on the live show of Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing show on BBC1. Picture date: Saturday September 27, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: Not for use more than 21 days after issue. You may use this picture without charge only for the purpose of publicising or reporting on current BBC programming, personnel or other BBC output or activity within 21 days of issue. Any use after that time MUST be cleared through BBC Picture Publicity. Please credit the image to the BBC and any named photographer or independent programme maker, as described in the caption.
Lewis has also hit back at criticism of his past dance experience (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)

X user @KDCunliffe called her routine ‘exquisite’, while @Imogen_Alanah wrote: ‘Katyas choreography will always be supreme in my eyes’.

‘Why are they harsh on Lewis & Katya?’, asked @tropicalsocks.

‘Lewis and Katya have the best chemistry this series, no arguments’, stated @slinehan1.

‘no way did katya just argue with anton… girl’, @blhtrixya wrote, taken aback by the tense exchange.

‘get antons a** katya’, joked @katyajcnes.

Lewis and Katya’s latest performance follows the musical theatre star’s response to backlash from his Strictly casting after trolls accused him of having ‘professional experience’, putting him at an unfair advantage.

Lewis Cope, Katya Jones TX DATE:20-09-2025,TX WEEK:38,EMBARGOED UNTIL:20-09-2025 20:30:00,DESCRIPTION:*NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 2030HRS, SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER, 2025*,COPYRIGHT:BBC Public Service,CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston
The Billy Elliot star is a favourite to lift the Glitter Ball this year (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston)

Speaking exclusively to Metro, the former soap star, who was brought in to replace Kristian Nairn after he dropped out of Strictly, assured people that he hasn’t trained professionally since he performed in Billy Elliot at the age of 11.

Lewis, who was also a finalist on the reality TV series Got To Dance, explained: ‘I don’t really know where all that came from, to be honest.

‘I trained as an actor; I danced a bit when I was a teen, but haven’t since. It’s only ever really been acting for me for a long, long time—so I don’t really know where that came from.’

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‘I don’t really take notice of it, though—everyone’s so strong, and anyone can pull out a brilliant performance at any point.’

Lewis added that to ‘call [him] professionally trained or a professional dancer seems a bit bizarre, especially now that [he’s] working with these pros on the show.’

‘It’s kind of an insult to them, really, to suggest I’m on their level when they’ve dedicated their lives to becoming as brilliant as they are.’

Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturdays and Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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