Leeds boxing champion Nicola Adams says its a step in “right direction” for Strictly Come Dancing as first same-sex couple revealed

Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Nicola Adams has said being paired with a female professional on Strictly Come Dancing is a “brilliant step in the right direction", as it's reported she will dance alongside Katya Jones as the first ever same-sex dance couple.
By Ruth Dacey
Published 6th Oct 2020, 17:28 GMT
Updated 6th Oct 2020, 17:32 GMT

Though it has not yet been officially announced, the pair were spotted leaving filming together this morning and ballroom pro Katya, 31, previously said that she would “love” to be a part of the historic show’s first same-sex pairing.

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Leeds boxing champion Nicola Adams confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing and will ...

Adams, who won gold at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, 37, said: "It means a lot to me. I think it’s a brilliant step in the right direction especially on the diversity side of things.

Nicola Adams, one of the contestants in this year's BBC1 dance contest, Strictly Come Dancing. Photo credit: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA WireNicola Adams, one of the contestants in this year's BBC1 dance contest, Strictly Come Dancing. Photo credit: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire
Nicola Adams, one of the contestants in this year's BBC1 dance contest, Strictly Come Dancing. Photo credit: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire
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"And women actually dance with women all the time in the professional circuit so I guess it’s just showing people that it can be done".

Katya, a Strictly Come Dancing professional, earlier this year told the Sunday Mirror: “I would love to dance with a woman on the show. I think creatively it would be really interesting and I love coming up with new ideas for stuff.”

Adams, 37, who retired from the ring late last year, announcing the news in an exclusive open letter to the readers of the Yorkshire Evening Post, will become the first celebrity to be part of a same-sex pairing on the popular BBC One series when it returns on October 17 for the launch show.

Adams has made a remarkable journey from the streets of Burmantofts to Olympic gold boxing champion and remains a sporting hero and inspiration to millions of women and girls around the world.

Boxer Nicola Adams visits the Yorkshire Evening Post newsroom after annoucing her retirement from the sport last year. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe/JPIMediaResellBoxer Nicola Adams visits the Yorkshire Evening Post newsroom after annoucing her retirement from the sport last year. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe/JPIMediaResell
Boxer Nicola Adams visits the Yorkshire Evening Post newsroom after annoucing her retirement from the sport last year. Photo credit: Jonathan Gawthorpe/JPIMediaResell
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This year's series will be shorter than usual due to the pandemic, with the first live show airing on October 24.

Last week, singer and YouTube star HRVY, 21, revealed he was isolating for 10 days after testing positive for coronavirus.

It is understood he will still take part in the launch show - when the celebrities are paired with their dance partners - depending on him getting a negative test result.

Completing the 12-strong celebrity line-up alongside HRVY, real name Harvey Leigh Cantwell, and Adams is comedian Bill Bailey, actress Caroline Quentin, reality star Jamie Laing, former home secretary Jacqui Smith and The Wanted's Max George.

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They are joined by DJ Clara Amfo, BBC pundit and former NFL star Jason Bell, former Royal Marine and Invictus Games medallist JJ Chalmers, soap star Maisie Smith and Good Morning Britain's Ranvir Singh.

Made in Chelsea star Laing said if he gets injured again this year then the infamous Strictly curse is about his foot.

Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Shirley Ballas will return to the panel this year.

Bruno Tonioli will initially be absent from the Saturday night panel because he is in the US as a judge on Dancing With The Stars. But he will join the show remotely for the Sunday night results show and is due to return full-time towards the end of the series, the BBC has said.

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This year's series will have a much-reduced live audience, with people applying for tickets also being instructed that they will have to wear face coverings, preferably black ones, throughout the recording and while on site at the studios in Elstree.

According to guidance on the BBC's Shows and Tours website, tickets this year are limited and they will also seat family groups of "four people from the same household/social bubble at cabaret tables and in balcony seating".

The website says the corporation will also be supporting the NHS Test and Trace Scheme, and urges people to not attend recordings if they "begin to develop any of the symptoms of coronavirus or if you have come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus".

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One for the launch show on October 17.

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Related topics:Nicola AdamsLeedsBBC One