Strictly Come Dancing star Lewis Cope has revealed he remains open to returning to Emmerdale as Nicky Miligan.
The 30-year-old performer, who departed the ITV soap more than twelve months ago, suggested his character could make a comeback at any time.
Mr Cope portrayed Nicky Miligan on the Yorkshire-based drama from December 2022 until his exit last year.
His departure came after his character discovered significant secrets had been kept from him by those he trusted most.
Lewis Cope talked about his Emmerdale role
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ITV
The actor, currently competing on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional partner Katya Jones, addressed speculation about his potential return to the Dales during the Pride of Britain Awards on Tuesday.
Nicky first arrived in the village as a nanny for Gabby Thomas’s young son, initially appearing to be a straightforward childcare professional.
However, viewers later discovered he was secretly Caleb’s son, planted in the household as part of a scheme targeting Kim Tate’s wealth and business empire.
The character’s storyline took a romantic turn when he became involved with Suni Sharma, with their relationship developing throughout his time on the programme.
Their joint exit from the village occurred when both men learnt about deceptions from people close to them, prompting them to leave together.
Since departing the soap, Mr Cope has maintained connections with the Emmerdale cast, who have shown enthusiasm for his current television venture on the BBC’s flagship Saturday night entertainment programme.
“Nicky can come back at any point,” the actor told Radio Times at the Pride of Britain Awards. “His family is still in there; it was a brilliant, brilliant job for me.”
The performer expressed deep affection for his time on the long-running series, highlighting the warm working environment he experienced during his stint.
“I loved being there, everyone’s so lovely and they’ve been so supportive of this [Strictly] as well,” he stated.
When pressed about future possibilities, Mr Cope remained diplomatically open to all options.
“So, you never know what’s going to happen in the future,” he added, suggesting that while no concrete plans exist, the door remains open for Nicky’s return to the village where his relatives still reside.
He summarised the potential of a soap return as being possible, concluding: “Never say never.”
Mr Cope’s dancing abilities have impressed Strictly viewers and judges alike, with the performer achieving a perfect 10 alongside Jones during Movie Week.
BBC Strictly: Lewis Cope and Katya Jones have been doing well in the current series
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BBCThe achievement left him stunned, as he revealed to the media.
“We’re training as hard as we can and then what will be, will be on the Saturday,” Cope explained about his approach to the competition.
“But it was unbelievable, I was speechless and that takes quite a lot as well.”
BBC Strictly: Lewis Cope reflected on his soap character amid his BBC Strictly stint
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BBCThe former soap star joined Strictly as a last-minute replacement for Game of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn, who withdrew due to illness.
Despite facing criticism about his previous dance experience from his youth, Mr Cope has defended his place in the competition, emphasising that he hasn’t danced professionally for 12 years.