Judge Rinder 'to return to Strictly' in show's first ever same-sex couple

Judge Rinder is set to return to Strictly Come Dancing- this time in a same-sex couple, as eager show bosses have offered him a place for next year.

The telly judge, real name Rob, says the BBC are keen to have him back on the show in a same-sex couple, after Dancing On Ice's Ian "H" Watkins and Matt Evers were paired together this year.

Rob, 41, admitted he'd "do anything" to appear on the show again, after revealing: "I was offered next year's Christmas special with a same-sex dancer," to OK! Magazine.

He continued: "I'd do anything. I've danced on stage with Anton Du Beke for a Grenfell Tower benefit."

Rob with his dancing partner Oksana Platero on 2016's Strictly (BBC/Jay Brooks/Matt Burlem)

It comes after Strictly introduced a same-sex couple in the professional group dance last year - where Johannes Radebe and Graziano Di Prima performed together to Shine by Emeli Sande.

But the performance was criticised and received 300 complaints to the BBC.

Rob 'would do anything' to be back on the show (ITV)

H from Steps was the first same-sex couple in Dancing On Ice's history.

However he was the fifth person to be booted off the skating competition.

At the time, he posted on social media to share a selfie with show judges Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.

In a banner across the snap, he wrote, "Happiness".

H also shared a video of himself on the ice laughing as he perfected his moves.

H and Matt ready to perform together on DOI (Getty Images)

In a post on  Instagram, he wrote: "I mean...   @dancingonice training is getting ridiculously funny!!!"

H reportedly asked Dancing On Ice producers whether he could be paired with a male skater and the team were "fully supportive" of it.

Taking to Twitter, excited fans shared their opinion on the same-sex dancers.

Fans were overwhelmed that DOI bosses introduced a same-sex couple (ITV)

One wrote: "The world was ready for this. This is normal." Hats off to @dancingonice for featuring the first same sex couple! #DancingOnIce"

Another penned: "Watching the first same sex couple perform together on dancing on ice was so beautiful. 2020 said: love and acceptance".

A third added: "My heart is actually bursting that there’s a same sex couple on dancing on ice this is exactly the kind of representation that is needed and is a huge step in the right direction I’m literally!! So!!"

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