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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Will Twigger

Kristina Rihanoff wants to partner up with Nicole Scherzinger for Strictly's first same-sex pair

Former Strictly professional Kristina Rihanoff would be up for a return to the show - and dreams of coupling up with Nicole Scherzinger.

Kristina, 42, told of how she'd be open to returning following the bombshell announcements from fan favourites Kevin Clifton and AJ Pritchard that they'd called time on their involvement on the show.

She's also got someone very specific in mind to dance with - Pussycat Doll and X Factor judge Nicole.

If Kristina's wish were granted, it would make them the first same-sex couple to compete on the show - although pros Graziano di Prima and Johannes Radebe performed a single routine together during the last series.

Kristina would be up for a comeback (David Fisher/REX Shutterstock)

Dancing On Ice also saw its first same-sex couple during the latest contest, with an opening show that saw skating partners Matt Evers and Ian "H" Watkins reduce John Barrowman to tears.

Kristina, who left Strictly five years back, told The Sun that a same-sex couple is "overdue" and that she'd be keen to make it a reality.

On who she'd pair with, Kristina dished: "It would be Nicole Scherzinger.

Nicole is Kristina's ideal partner (Nicole Scherzinger/Instagram)
Kristina met hubby Ben Cohen on Strictly (WireImage)

"She's an incredible dancer and musician, so she'd be amazing feeling the music. She's very good-looking too!"

Kristina spent a whopping eight years on Strictly, packing it in in 2015.

She even met her husband, rugby legend Ben Cohen, on the show.

Head judge Shirley Ballas told This Morning that BBC bosses had already found replacements for the departing Kevin and AJ.

She reassured fans: "They've been a great part of the show. We love them, we wish them well, they've chosen to go on onto other things, but the show will go on."

Nicole and Thom are self-isolating together (DIGITAL/EROTEME.CO.UK)
AJ announced he would be leaving Strictly shortly after Kevin (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Universal Music & Soho House)

Nicole, meanwhile, has been making the most of self-isolation with the hunky Thom Evans, who she met on the celebrity addition of the X Factor last year.

The pair even belted out a duet to the camera, with Nicole revealing that it had been Thom's idea to spread a little happiness and positivity amid the lockdown gloom.

The newly reunited Pussycat Dolls have been forced to cancel their tour because of coronavirus, Nicole writing that while she's disappointed, safety has to come first.

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