Strictly Come Dancing 2018 will stick to ‘traditional’ format with no same-sex dance couples
Strictly Come Dancing (Christopher Furlong/Getty)
Strictly Come Dancing bosses have again ruled out permitting same-sex dance couples to compete on the show.
For several years the showĀ has faced calls to adapt its format to recognise same-sex dance pairings, which are increasingly common at major ballroom competitions.
International versions of the dance reality show have already featured same-sex dance couples, but Strictly bosses have been resistant to the change.
Susan Calman takes centre stage as she attends the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Live! photocall at Arena Birmingham, on January 18, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty)
Ahead of the show’s upcomingĀ 16th season, show bosses again confirmed that same-sex dance couples will not permitted under the show’s rules.
A spokesperson said: “Strictly has chosen the traditional format of mixed-sex couples and at the moment we have no plans to introduce same-sex couples.”
The confirmation comes despite vocal support from several of the show’s judges.
New head judge Shirley BallasĀ said earlier this year: “Theyāre just about to have the final of the Italian version ofĀ Strictly, and I was just informed that a same-sex couple, two men, made the final, so I will be following that.
āI think, to each his own. I think itās spectacular.
“I think things are changing, and I couldnāt think of anything more exciting. Iām for it!ā
Head Judge Shirley Ballas attends the ‘Strictly Come Dancing 2017’ red carpet launch (Gareth Cattermole/Getty)
Italian celebrity Giovanni Ciacci made it to final ofĀ Ballando con le stelleĀ alongside male dancerĀ Raimondo Todaro.
Judge Craig Revel HorwoodĀ has long been a supporter of permitting same-sex dance couples on the show.
He said last year: “I think same-sex couples can exist. You only have to decide whoās going to go backwards really, thatās the only difference.
“I really hope [it happens]. In the world of competition there are same-sex couples ā¦ so thereās no reason why that canāt happen.”
He added: “The Beeb have to decide whether they want to do that one year. I think it will probably happen next year.
āIf you consider the tango was originally danced between two men anyway ā¦ Itās powerful, explosive, and the same can happen between two women.”
Judges Craig Revel-Horwood, Darcey Bussell, Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli (Getty)
Fellow judgeĀ Bruno Toniloi added: āI think youād have to find the right contestants, but absolutely. Two girls, two boys, why not? I think it would be fantastic.ā
However former Strictly star James Jordan hasĀ claimedĀ that it would be āwrongāĀ to feature same-sex dance couples on the show.
He insisted: āItās wrong. I think they would lose so many viewers.
āI have nothing against same-sex couples, if they want to go and do their own competitions.
āBut ballroom and Latin dancing is about a man dancing with a woman ā thatās fact.
āIt annoys me that people like Craig can say this because heās gay. Thatās the only reason heās pushing it.ā
Adam Rippon, who is currently appearing on the US version of the show, Dancing with the Stars, has backedĀ calls for a version of the show featuring same-sex dance couples.
He said: “I think that [same-sex dance pairings] would be awesome. Yeah, so cool.”
“I’ve actually gotten to dance with Val [Chmerkovskiy, a male dancer on the show] a little bit. Now that I have the skills, I’m going to literally dance with anybody and everything!”
He added: “When I dance with Val, he’s definitely showing me which direction to go, and when I dance with Jenna, I’m pretending I am ’cause she’s really leading me throughout the whole thing!”
Dancing with the StarsĀ featured a same-sex dance routine as part of a one-off performance in 2016.
