Same- sex pairing for boxer Nicola
BOXING champ Nicola Adams will make TV history on Strictly when she becomes half of the show’s first same- sex couple.
The Olympic gold medal winner, who has been with girlfriend Ella Baig for two years, will be paired with a female professional dancer when the 18th series begins this autumn.
One insider said: “It’s such an exciting step for us to be taking, and many feel it is well overdue. It’s been talked about for so long, to see it finally happen feels truly ground- breaking and really quite emotional.”
Judge Craig Revel Horwood has repeatedly called for the change, saying: “More and more people want it – maybe the BBC will be brave enough one day to do it.”
TV doctor Ranj Singh said he was disappointed at not being able to dance with a man. And former contestant the Reverend Richard Coles agreed.
Last year, best friends Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Palma became the first male professionals on the show to dance together. Many viewers were moved to tears but some complained.
Nicola, 37, become the first woman to win an Olympic boxing gold medal, accomplishing the feat in front of her home crowd in 2012. She and beauty blogger Baig, 21, appeared together on Channel 4’ s Celebrity Gogglebox.
Last night Men Behaving Badly star Caroline Quentin, 60, was the first of three celebrity contestants revealed during BBC’s The One Show.
She will be joined by former American footballer and BBC pundit Jason Bell, 42, and The Wanted singer Max George, 31.