Halloween week on Strictly Come Dancing was nothing short of magical as the ballroom transformed into a ghoulish spectacle — but it was Lewis Cope who completely stole the night. The actor’s Couple’s Choice routine to a chilling rendition of Radiohead’s Creep left the audience breathless and the judges spellbound, earning him the first perfect 40 of the series.

Growing up in Hartlepool as one of 14 children, Lewis revealed he left home at just 10 years old to pursue his dream of performing in London, often missing his beloved Nanna Dot. But tonight, with his dance partner Katya Jones, he channelled all that longing and emotion into a routine filled with haunting twists and jaw-dropping precision.

Even notoriously tough judge Craig Revel Horwood couldn’t hold back, giving a rare 10 and calling the number “Spooktacular!” Motsi Mabuse stood to applaud, declaring the performance “out of this world,” while Anton Du Beke described it as “the best of the series by a million miles.”

The most emotional moment came when Shirley Ballas wiped away tears, saying she wanted to thank Lewis’s family “for letting him follow his dreams and share his gift with the nation.”

Elsewhere, Karen Carney bounced back with a fiery Peaky Blinders-themed Argentine Tango scoring 38, and Alex Kingston turned up the heat with a devilish Salsa that had Shirley gushing she wanted to “get on the floor” with her. Meanwhile, Vicky Pattison, fresh off her emotional Icons Week, opened the Halloween show with a dramatic American Smooth to Total Eclipse of the Heart, earning 31 and another wave of praise from the panel.

But the night truly belonged to Lewis. As confetti fell and the crowd erupted, he could be seen mouthing “thank you” to his family watching proudly in the audience — a heartfelt reminder of how far a dreamer from Hartlepool has come.