Strictly moves fans to tears with tender same-sex performance: ‘Wish I’d had this when I was a kid’

Strictly Come Dancing pros Nikita Kuzmin and Carlos Gu danced a rhumba together alongside pop star Adam Lambert in this week’s special performance, and fans have gone wild.

Nikita, who is paired with the show’s first Paralympian contestant Ellie Simmonds, and Carlos, who is paired with TV Presenter Molly Rainford, danced to a rendition of Dinah Washington’s “Mad About the Boy”, performed by the Queen singer.

One twitter user wrote that he would ask the two dancers to “do it again every single week”.

Other fans have been similarly complimentary of the pair.

One wrote: “Agreed. This was a stunning performance, brilliantly danced.”

“Utterly beautiful & electrifying. Happy tears watching this”, another added.

A third commented that the Strictly pair were a “perfect partnership and the interpretation of the song was superb”.

Others praised Lambert – who is openly gay – on his contribution to the Strictly performance, too.

“It was beautiful, matched by the stunning Mr Lambert in all his glory”, said one viewer.

Another wrote: “I wish I wish I wish I had seen Adam Lambert sing Mad About the Boy whilst two male dancers did a romantic dance on primetime telly when I was a kid, or even as a nervous and conflicted gay teen. It would have meant so much just to see.”

For the first time, the series features two same-sex Strictly pairings in Radio DJ Richie Anderson and Giovanni Pernice, and comedian Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer.

Richie and Giovanni were unfortunately eliminated this week, after failing to impress the judges with their Jungle Book themed samba.

The two dressed as the characters Timon and Pumba, but were ultimately unable to convince the judges that hakuna matata did, in fact, mean ‘no worries’.

Fans have been mourning the pair’s exit, especially after Giovanni’s win, with Rose Ayling-Ellis, in last year’s series.

Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer finished seventh this week (8 October), with their highest score to date. They received a standing ovation for their first dance.

Both Carlos and Nikita’s pairs are still in the running as of the end of Episode 3, with Molly and Carlos receiving the highest overall score in Episode 2 and the second highest this week.