British actor Lewis Cope has become an unexpected addition to the Strictly Come Dancing 2025 lineup, stepping in as a last-minute replacement for Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn, who withdrew from the competition on medical grounds. The 30-year-old Emmerdale star, who plays Nicky Milligan on the popular ITV soap, received the surprise call while walking down Oxford Street on his way to meet a friend. Cope's sudden entry has made him an early standout in this year's competition, marking one of two late cast changes that have reshaped the series before its first live show.

Cope brings significant performing experience to the dance floor, having made his stage debut at just 11 years old in the West End production of Billy Elliot: The Musical, where he played Michael. The actor has credited that early experience with shaping his career, telling Tresa magazine, "If I hadn't have done that show when I was 11, I wouldn't be an actor now. It opened my eyes." His connection to the Billy Elliot story runs particularly deep, as he noted that his grandfather was a miner, making the production's themes "very close to home."

Beyond his theatrical background, Cope possesses actual dance training from his teenage years as part of the hip-hop troupe Ruff Diamond. The group achieved notable success, finishing as runners-up on the Sky One dance competition Got to Dance in 2013 and receiving praise from judge Kimberly Wyatt, who called their initial audition the best of the series. This combination of stage experience and specific dance training positions Cope as a potentially strong contender in the competition, despite his late entry.

The actor joins fellow replacement Amber Davies, who was brought in after Dani Dyer withdrew due to an ankle fracture sustained during rehearsals. Cope expressed that the sudden nature of his casting might work to his advantage, stating, "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." He has also identified judge Shirley Ballas as the panel member he's particularly hoping to impress as he makes his Strictly debut.

Kilcoo secured their place in Down football history on Sunday, capturing an unprecedented seventh consecutive Senior Football Championship title with a 1-17 to 1-11 victory over Carryduff at Pairc Esler. The Magpies delivered their strongest performance of the championship when it mattered most, with Paul Devlin's first-half penalty goal providing crucial separation in a hard-fought contest that saw the throw-in time pushed back to 5pm following a pitch inspection.

The match, originally scheduled for 3:30pm, saw Kilcoo demonstrate the championship experience that has defined their remarkable 12-title run over 13 seasons. Devlin's 22nd-minute penalty strike down the middle proved decisive, with the player explaining his calculated approach: "It was a big moment in the game and it needed to go in, so I didn't want to put it in the corner and the keeper has a chance if diving. I just thought I wanted to hit it hard."

Carryduff, making their first final appearance since losing to Kilcoo in the 2020 decider, mounted a second-half rally but ultimately fell short of claiming what would have been their inaugural Frank O'Hare Cup. The South Belfast club had powered past Burren in the semi-final with their full contingent available, but couldn't overcome Kilcoo's championship pedigree despite showing improved form from their previous final appearance five years earlier.

Devlin expressed satisfaction with the victory amid external skepticism, noting "it's nice to see that people want Kilcoo to fall" while emphasizing the team's resilience. "This one is sweet with how the game played out and the build-up where we were doubted in this year's championship," he told BBC Sport NI. "It just shows the character of this team. Big teams play well in big games and we have that experience to put in those big performances." The win solidifies Kilcoo's status as the dominant force in Down football, achieving a landmark that had eluded them when Burren denied their seventh consecutive title bid in 2018.