Strictly’s Nicola Adams confirms she WILL be show’s first same-sex pair after insisting bosses give her female partner
BOXER Nicola Adams today confirmed she WILL be in the show’s first ever same-sex couple.
The 37-year-old Olympian – the first openly LGBT person to win a boxing Gold at the 2012 Games – will make history again this year.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast today, she said: “I think it’s really important – it’s a big step for the show. It’s nice to see that we’re able to move on.”
Nicola added she insisted on dancing with a girl when she got the call from the dance hit’s producers.
She explained: “I asked the show about it. They wanted to know if I wanted to be on the show and I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it, but I want to dance with another female dance partner.'”
Strictly has previously featured two male professionals dancing together – Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prima – but only in a one-off routine.
Six stars have been confirmed for this year’s show, with Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir Singh unveiled this morning.
Clara Amfo, who has hosted Radio 1’s late morning slot for five years, was revealed as a contestant on the station’s breakfast show today.
Already revealed last night were pop star Max George, 31, plus actress Caroline Quentin, 60, and Nadine Coyle’s ex Jason Bell.
Bisexual Nicola was revealed on last night’s The One Show as one of the contestants but explained today she would be in the first same-sex couple.
Fans last night praised the BBC for its decision, with one posting: “It’s great to be having a female same-sex couple on Strictly. I really admire Nicola so I’m pleased to see she is going to be the first one.”
Insiders said BBC bosses also want the 18th series, starting on October 24, to present their most diverse line-up following the Black Lives Matter protests.
Bell, 42, a one-time NFL player with the Dallas Cowboys, is part of that push. He has daughter Anaiya, six, with Nadine, 35, although the couple split last year.
And Clara, 36, has been praised for an emotional speech after the death in the US of George Floyd this year.