Peter Andre said it shouldn't have 'taken this long' for Strictly to sign their first all-male pairing.
Great British Bake Off 2012 winner John Whaite will be paired up with a male professional dancer when the show returns this autumn.
Mysterious Girl singer Peter took to his column in new magazine to discuss the long-awaited pairing.
"It shouldn't have taken this long, in my opinion," the 48-year-old said. "Dance is dance.
"It doesn't matter whether it's a man dancing with a woman or a man dancing with a man - it's about the art of dance.
"I've been on stage many times with all-male dancers. What is the difference?"
John's dance partner has not yet been revealed but the food writer jumped at the opportunity as it would be a "great step forward in representation and inclusion."
He explained: "I think that's going to be such a great thing in our culture, where men are sort of conditioned not to open up and not to be emotional.
"I think it might help to combat that. So I'm excited on so many levels to be doing the first all-male partnership."
He also said: "To do that and represent the LGBTQ+ community is one thing, but also to see two men or two women dancing together, it is not necessarily about sexuality, it's about intimacy and respect."
At the age of 23, John, who is from Chorley in Lancashire, took part in the third series of GBBO, where he was crowned the winner.
He currently works as a chef and author.
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After winning the 2012 series, John went on to release recipe books, founded a cookery school near his hometown, and has become an accomplished TV chef.
The star is currently engaged to graphic designer Paul Atkins.
In 2017, the baker took to Instagram to announce the news, sharing: "My true love. We've decided to get married. We've fought for these rights, and we shall use them."
John keeps his relationship private, but the couple had been together for nearly ten years at the time of the post, and they appear to be going from strength-to-strength.
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