The BBC will not change its format and introduce same-sex partners to Strictly Come Dancing despite calls for it to do so from former contestants and its own judges.
In a statement, the BBC said: “Strictly has chosen the longstanding ballroom-dancing format of mixed-sex couples.”
There have been growing calls for the show to become more progressive and introduce same-sex partners.
Current judge Craig Revel Horwood said he believes that same-sex partners could work and pointed to the history of ballroom dancing where men regularly danced together. “If you consider the tango was originally danced between two men anyway. It’s powerful, explosive, and the same can happen between two women.”
“You only have to decide who’s going to go backwards, really, that’s the only difference.”
But others have said the debate risks politicising the show. Former contestant Robert Rinder told the Radio Times that Strictly should be about “pure escapism” and he was tired of having to explain why he wasn’t dancing with someone of the same sex.
“One of the first questions I was asked when I joined Strictly Come Dancing last year was: ‘Ooh, how come you’re dancing with a woman?’ The answer was always: ‘What a thoroughly absurd question.’”
“There are plenty of organisations making a real difference to the lives of gay people around the country that do need our help, so why undermine the wonder of Strictly by politicising it?”
Rinder did recently tell the Telegraph that it “would be great if it happens, visibility really does matter”.
The last season of the show, which was won by actor Joe McFadden, was its most popular outing yet, pulling in 13.1m viewers for its finale. But the show hasn’t been without controversy. During the last series, the question of race was raised when Alexandra Burke was regularly in the bottom two of the public vote. Then the show decided to remove long-standing professional dancer Brendan Cole.
“It’s an editorial decision,” he said. “I’ll never know the ins and outs. I’m a very strong character within the show. I have my strong views. Some do [like it], some don’t.”
