Susan: I haven’t got a cha- cha- chance
. . . BUT I’M STRIKING A BLOW FOR EQUALITY
SHE may not have the show’s glitterball trophy in her sights – but lesbian Strictly star Susan Calman believes she is making a positive statement simply by taking part.
‘I did not come into Strictly to win the competition,’ the comedienne said before last night’s show. ‘I have never won a competition in my life. It’s about enjoying it and making people at home enjoy it.’
But Susan, who is cheered on each week by wife Lee Cormack, said she is striking a blow for gay equality even though she is dancing with a man – Kevin Clifton.
‘Having a contestant like me on the biggest show on television with my wife and parents there gives an incredibly positive message,’ the 42-year-old added.
She also insists that while she and Kevin are unlikely to trouble the favourites to win the competition – including Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice – their routines have a powerful message. Susan said: ‘We did a feminist Samba where I threw Kevin across the floor. Everything we are doing is in keeping with who I am.’
Although Strictly has welcomed gay contestants before, unlike some international versions, it has never had a same-sex couple. At the start of this series gay contestant Rev Richard Coles said this made ‘no sense’. Susan said: ‘It has to be an individual choice as to whether or not a contestant comes on board and asks to dance with a same-sex partner and then it’s the show’s decision.’
A spokesman for the BBC said: ‘At the moment we have no plans to introduce same-sex couples.’