Lewis Cope tops Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard
Lewis Cope has achieved the first perfect score of the current series.
Lewis Cope has topped the Strictly Come Dancing leaderboard.
The 30-year-old actor and his professional partner Katya Jones have become the first couple to achieve a perfect 40 points during the current series.
After Lewis wowed the audience with his performance, Strictly judge Anton Du Beke said: "There is nothing you could have done to make that dance better."
Fellow judge Motsi Mabuse also heaped praise on Lewis, describing his performance as being "out of this world".
Elsewhere, Shirley Ballas said that Lewis' family deserve a thank you for the gift that is Lewis.
She added: "Well done, you."
Meanwhile, former England soccer star Karen Carney also impressed the Strictly judges with her Peaky Blinders-inspired routine, which earned her a score of 38 points out of a possible 40.
The show was opened by reality TV star Vicky Pattison, who scored 31 points from the judges, and she also received heartfelt praise from Motsi.
The Strictly judge said: "A few weeks ago, I couldn't believe that you'd open our show. I loved the character play in the beginning, you did it so, so well.
"So for me, you are a contender for the final. Honestly. And I just want you to finish everything, make everything nice and clean."
Vicky subsequently admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the praise.
The TV star - who was actually reduced to tears by Motsi's comments - explained: "I hated going first! Honestly, I loved this dance this week because for once I had a foundation to build on.
"I wasn't just starting from scratch and feeling so inadequate. I was just desperate to prove that I have improved."
On the other hand, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and his partner Karen Hauer failed to impress the Strictly judges, scoring a relatively modest total of 26 points.
The duo were penalised by the judges for making an error in the middle of their American Smooth routine, and therefore found themselves at the foot of the Strictly leaderboard.
