Strictly Come Dancing ‘set to allow same-sex couples’

Strictly Come Dancing will reportedly welcome same sex couples from next year.

As the upcoming 2019 series prepares to kick off, future seasons of Strictly could see a big change.

It’s been claimed that producers are looking to welcome same-sex couples having previously followed a strict “traditional format” of mixed-sex pairings.

According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, the move follows international versions of Strictly doing the same.

A source shared: “Bosses have said while there aren’t any same sex pairings in this series, they’d definitely be open to it, given the right combination of celebs and dancers. The show’s always been inclusive and reflects modern Britain.”

They added: “Having previously thought it was unnecessary, it has dawned on people at the BBC that the original British show looks a bit backwards in not having embraced the notion of a same-sex couple.
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Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood previously said he’d love to see same-sex pairings on Strictly.

“They have introduced it with the pros already and are very proud of that,” he said in 2018. “That was to see how the audience might cope with two blokes having a dance together. That’s exactly what they do in the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina.”

He added: “I think more and more people want it, the more it will happen. I have no argument against it.

“I think it would be rather fun. Maybe the BBC will be brave enough one day to do it.”

For now, the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing will begin on September 7.

The celebs on the cast this year include former England footballer David James, stand up comedian Chris Ramsey and EastEnders star Emma Barton.

They’re joined by social media star and YouTuber Saffron Barker, Coronation Street actress Catherine Tyldesley, BBC Breakfast’s sports presenter Mike Bushell and CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual.

Also on the Strictly line up are TV legend Anneka Rice, Viscountess Emma Weymouth, RuPaul Drag Race’s Michelle Visage, Paralympic champion Will Bayley, and footballer and presenter Alex Scott.

Completing the celebrities are Made In Chelsea’s Jamie Laing, Radio 1 DJ Dev Griffin and gold medal winning Olympian James Cracknell.

They’ll be paired up with the pros in the launch show before heading into training for the first live show on September 21.