STRICTLY Come Dancing star Lewis Cope has revealed his girlfriend doesn’t bat an eyelid that he is dancing with stunning Katya Jones as she’s used to him snogging handsome men on screen.

The hunky ex Emmerdale actor, 30, who played Nicky Miligan on the ITV soap, has been dating his stunning pilates instructor girlfriend Rachel Maya Lopez for seven years.

Lewis Cope and girlfriend Rach Lopez standing together, smiling, with a white wall behind them.
Lewis Cope has revealed what girlfriend Rachel Lopez thinks of his partnership with Katya JonesCredit: Instagram
 

Katya Jones and Lewis Cope dancing during the dress rehearsal for Strictly Come Dancing.
The actor has impressed on the dancefloor with the veteran show proCredit: PA
In an exclusive interview with the Sun on Sunday Lewis said: “Over the years I’ve had to kiss a lot of people on stage or onscreen, as an actor, so she’s used to me kissing boys actually, but it hasn’t been a problem.

“Katya and Rachel have all met. It’s never been a conversation between us.”

He added: “Rachel has supported me all the way, she is my biggest supporter, she sends me into rehearsals with a packed lunch, she really looks after me.

“Just before I got onto the show, we managed to get a holiday with just the two of us, she booked us a studio, and she was getting me moving. She is fantastic and amazing.”

Lewis, who tonight performed the Couple’s Choice to Creep by Radiohead, revealed that he’s grateful to be partnered with Russian-born Katya, 36.

He said: “Katya may have been on the show for 10 years, but it’s like it’s her first year. She is amazing with the choreography, but she is also such a bright energy.

“Nothing is ever a problem, even if I am struggling with something, she always finds a way of making it work.

“She is patient and she doesn’t have a massive ego, she is adaptable with me and tries to make things work.

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“What you see on a Saturday night is not what is going on during the week at all.

“I have so much trust in her, she is coming up with the ideas and concepts, I know that what she is putting out there is the best we can do.”

Hartlepool lad Lewis, who was the first contestant this series to receive a 10 last month (Oct) has come under fire for having dance experience, but he explained it was when he was a child.

He said: “Dance classes are more accessible in towns like Hartlepool, than singing or acting. It was the gateway into the industry. I didn’t train professionally as a dancer, I just danced as a child.”

Lewis Cope with his long-term girlfriend Rach Lopez posing in a window.
Lewis and Rachel have been together for seven yearsCredit: Instagram
 

Laurel Sharma tries to find out from Nicky why Amit punched him, neither aware Amit is watching suspiciously.
Rachel was used to watching Lewis in steamy scenes in EmmerdaleCredit: IT