Lewis Cope, the Emmerdale actor who is among the celebrity contestants on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, accidentally posted a behind-the-scenes video that showed the 2025 cast in costume ahead of the programme’s launch episode, then deleted the clip shortly afterwards.
Cope, 30, who steps in for Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn after the latter withdrew for medical reasons, shared the footage on his Instagram account while the first launch episode was being recorded this week. Producers had sought to keep details of the opening show and the pairings under wraps until the broadcast, but the short-lived post gave viewers a glimpse of rehearsals and costumes before it was removed.
The BBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The launch recording follows pre-recorded numbers filmed earlier in the week, during which several celebrities, including Dani Dyer, Vicky Pattison, drag performer La Voix and rugby player Chris Robshaw, performed with their professional partners for the opening sequence.
The episode’s secrecy was already compromised earlier in the week when a longstanding online ‘super-spoiler’ published what were described as the celebrity-professional pairings on a website and an X account. The account holder has been publishing results and spoilers for more than a decade. Fans on social media reacted strongly to the leak, with some calling the revealed pairings “interesting” and others saying it spoiled the surprise. The Daily Mail has not published the leaked pairings to avoid further spoiling the launch.
Broadcasters and production teams on live-entertainment shows routinely restrict access to rehearsals and recordings to prevent leaks, but incidents of premature social-media posts have occurred on Strictly previously. The programme’s launch episode, which will introduce the contestants and pairings to viewers, is scheduled to air next weekend, with 15 celebrities competing for the show’s glitterball trophy this series.
The official celebrity line-up announced for Strictly Come Dancing 2025 includes Olympic sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, actress Alex Kingston, EastEnders actor Balvinder Sopal, drag performer La Voix, reality star and entrepreneur Thomas Skinner, reality star Vicky Pattison, football pundit Karen Carney, Love Island winner and reality star Dani Dyer, former footballer and coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, model and disability ambassador Ellie Goldstein, rugby player Chris Robshaw, actor Stefan Dennis, showbiz correspondent Ross King and Emmerdale actor Lewis Cope. Several of the contestants issued short statements on being cast, signalling excitement and nerves: Alex Kingston quipped, "My hips don't lie," while Cope said he was "so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor."
Production for the new series has continued amid heightened attention to protecting programme surprises. The BBC and the Strictly production team have previously tightened controls after past leaks. Viewers will see the full launch episode and official pairings during the scheduled broadcast next weekend.