Why is Lewis Cope trending today?
Lewis Cope, known for Emmerdale and his 2025 appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, has split from girlfriend Rachel Lopez after nearly a decade together. The breakup was reported by UK entertainment outlets in October 2026.
What happened
- Earlier
Lewis Cope and Rachel Lopez quietly ended their relationship at the end of summer 2026, according to sources cited by Metro and AOL UK [1][2]
What you need to know
The pair had been together for about eight years before the split.
Lopez supported Cope during his Strictly rehearsals and the 2025 competition.
Both actors posted a joint holiday video on Instagram in August 2026, their last public appearance together.
Representatives for both have not responded to media inquiries.
Neither party has publicly confirmed the reasons for the breakup, and no official statement has been released.
Background
Lewis Cope is an actor from Emmerdale who competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2025 with professional dancer Katya Jones. His participation attracted media attention and speculation about his personal life.
Rachel Lopez is a Pilates instructor and West End actress who has been linked to Cope since 2018. She was noted for supporting him during the dance show, including arranging a holiday and helping with fitness routines.
The so‑called “Strictly curse” – a media narrative that relationships end after the show – has been mentioned in coverage of Cope’s split, though no direct link was confirmed.
Questions people ask
Did the breakup happen because of Strictly?
Sources said the split was a personal decision and did not attribute it directly to the dance show.
Will Lewis Cope return to Emmerdale?
There has been no announcement about his future roles; his recent work includes Channel 5’s Forever Home.
Has either party spoken publicly about the split?
No public statements have been made; media reports rely on unnamed insiders.
Where this came from
Found through Google Trends and drafted with AI from at least two cited sources. Published automatically after passing our automated checks for sources, wording and safety. It may not have been reviewed by a person yet. Report a correction.