STRICTLY SAME-SEX PAIR
Olympic hero Nicola makes TV history by signing up for dance show
NICOLA Adams’ same-sex pairing on Strictly was last night hailed as “ground-breaking” as bosses finally agreed to the change.
The Olympic champion, 37, who has been with girlfriend Ella Baig, 21, for two years, will join up with a female professional dancer for the series which starts next month.
It comes a year after it was revealed Strictly bosses intended to relax the rules which had always stipulated couples should be male and female partnerships.
An insider said last night: “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 quite emotional.”
Last August, Strictly producers said in a statement: “We are completely open to the prospect of including same-sex pairings between our celebrities and professional dancers, should the opportunity arise.”
Judge Craig Revel Horwood has repeatedly called for the change. He has said: “I think more and more people want it. Maybe the BBC will be brave enough one day to do it.” But two years ago, Beeb chiefs stressed there were “no plans” to include same-sex couples.
Pals Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Palma last year became the first male professionals on the show to dance together.
There were 200 complaints. But Graziano said: “There were millions of people writing to us, sending us videos saying thank you and celebrating our friendship.
Other nations to have had same-sex dance partners include Italy, Denmark, Germany, Australia and Ireland.