Strictly ‘set’ for another same-sex pairing as Bethany Antonia reportedly asks for a woman partner
Bethany Antonia has reportedly asked for a female dance partner (BBC)
Strictly Come Dancing is reportedly set to feature another same-sex pairing this year, with House of the Dragon actor Bethany Antonia said to have requested a female partner, per claims about the new series’ pairings.
The BBC has yet to confirm which celebrities will be paired with which professional dancers. The first show of the new series is reported to launch on 19 September on BBC One.
Antonia has previously spoken publicly about being gay when responding to an online troll. She said: “Everyone in my life has always known I’m gay.” She added: “It’s just another part of my life that I’m equally proud of being a Black woman.” Antonia continued: “So it was more of a hit back to say to the people, ‘Well, there’s another part of me that they’re going to hate.’”
The same claims also suggest celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, who some viewers expected would dance with a man, asked BBC bosses if he could be paired with a woman instead.
Strictly same-sex pairings so far
Same-sex pairings have become a recurring part of Strictly’s modern era. The first ever same-sex pairing on the show was Nicola Adams and Katya Jones in 2020, it is claimed.
The last all-female pairing referenced in the same claims was Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer in 2022.
It is also claimed that Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin competed as a same-sex pairing in 2023 and reached the final, where they were beaten by Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola.
Bethany Antonia and Chris Appleton
Antonia is a British actor known for TV work including HBO’s House of the Dragon. She has also drawn attention online for her response to a racist DM.
Appleton is a celebrity hairstylist with a high-profile media presence, and has spoken publicly about his life and family, including in a previous interview about his children.
