Same-sex couples could be introduced on Strictly

[roving-eye]

Strictly Come Dancing should include same-sex couples, according to contestant the Rev Richard Coles.



The former member of the 1980s band The Communards, argued it made "no sense" that anyone would oppose the move on the hit BBC show.

Coles also revealed he had had "a discussion" with the programmes bosses about allowing same-sex couples to take part.

The vicar, who is in a same-sex marriage, is among the 15 contestants taking part in this year's edition of Strictly Come Dancing, which started on Saturday.

Coles has been paired with Dianne Buswell on the show.

He made his comments came after fellow contestant Susan Calman, who is a lesbian, had been criticised on social media for not having a female professional partner.

Coles told Digital Spy: "We've had a discussion about it, actually, and I don't know. It makes absolutely no sense that anybody resists the idea, in principle.

"It's just a question of doing it. I think this year would be a good year to do it actually, with the 50th anniversary of sexual offences act (which decriminalised sex between two men aged more than 21)."

The Sunday Telegraph quoted the BBC saying they currently had no plans for same-sex couples to take part in the contest.

Comedian Calman, said she considered dancing with a woman, but later changed her mind.

She said: "I did think about dancing with a woman, but from the very first moment when I was asked about the show I said I wanted to dance with a man."

Reacting to comments on social media, she said: "People can criticise me all they want, but I've worked tirelessly for LGBT equality my whole life and right now I would like to dance and bring entertainment to people by dancing on a Saturday night.

"Dancing's not necessarily about sex; it's acting. When I do a sexy tango with my partner I'll be acting and, fundamentally, I've watched the show for years and I want to learn how to dance."

[grassroots]

Strictly Come Dancing should include same-sex couples, according to contestant the Rev Richard Coles.



The former member of the 1980s band The Communards, argued it made "no sense" that anyone would oppose the move on the hit BBC show.

Coles also revealed he had had "a discussion" with the programmes bosses about allowing same-sex couples to take part.

The vicar, who is in a same-sex marriage, is among the 15 contestants taking part in this year's edition of Strictly Come Dancing, which started on Saturday.

Coles has been paired with Dianne Buswell on the show.

He made his comments came after fellow contestant Susan Calman, who is a lesbian, had been criticised on social media for not having a female professional partner.

Coles told Digital Spy: "We've had a discussion about it, actually, and I don't know. It makes absolutely no sense that anybody resists the idea, in principle.

"It's just a question of doing it. I think this year would be a good year to do it actually, with the 50th anniversary of sexual offences act (which decriminalised sex between two men aged more than 21)."

The Sunday Telegraph quoted the BBC saying they currently had no plans for same-sex couples to take part in the contest.

Comedian Calman, said she considered dancing with a woman, but later changed her mind.

She said: "I did think about dancing with a woman, but from the very first moment when I was asked about the show I said I wanted to dance with a man."

Reacting to comments on social media, she said: "People can criticise me all they want, but I've worked tirelessly for LGBT equality my whole life and right now I would like to dance and bring entertainment to people by dancing on a Saturday night.

"Dancing's not necessarily about sex; it's acting. When I do a sexy tango with my partner I'll be acting and, fundamentally, I've watched the show for years and I want to learn how to dance."

If they must , they may.

[Albion102]

Strictly could not be made any "gayer" than it already is.

[Toodles McGinty]

I don't see how that would work in a show about something so deeply macho and heterosexual as ballroom dancing.

[DixieRoy]

Bloody ludicrous

[said]

Strictly Come Dancing should include same-sex couples, according to contestant the Rev Richard Coles.



The former member of the 1980s band The Communards, argued it made "no sense" that anyone would oppose the move on the hit BBC show.

Coles also revealed he had had "a discussion" with the programmes bosses about allowing same-sex couples to take part.

The vicar, who is in a same-sex marriage, is among the 15 contestants taking part in this year's edition of Strictly Come Dancing, which started on Saturday.

Coles has been paired with Dianne Buswell on the show.

He made his comments came after fellow contestant Susan Calman, who is a lesbian, had been criticised on social media for not having a female professional partner.

Coles told Digital Spy: "We've had a discussion about it, actually, and I don't know. It makes absolutely no sense that anybody resists the idea, in principle.

"It's just a question of doing it. I think this year would be a good year to do it actually, with the 50th anniversary of sexual offences act (which decriminalised sex between two men aged more than 21)."

The Sunday Telegraph quoted the BBC saying they currently had no plans for same-sex couples to take part in the contest.

Comedian Calman, said she considered dancing with a woman, but later changed her mind.

She said: "I did think about dancing with a woman, but from the very first moment when I was asked about the show I said I wanted to dance with a man."

Reacting to comments on social media, she said: "People can criticise me all they want, but I've worked tirelessly for LGBT equality my whole life and right now I would like to dance and bring entertainment to people by dancing on a Saturday night.

"Dancing's not necessarily about sex; it's acting. When I do a sexy tango with my partner I'll be acting and, fundamentally, I've watched the show for years and I want to learn how to dance."

The programme is as interesting as counting the grains of sand through an egg timer! It would not matter if there were two wallaby's dancing together - it is all the same! In these days, there are women who take up boxing, rugby, cricket, football etc., for no other reason than to show they can do it. A complete sham of course - they would not look so good when competing against men's teams. There are important biological reasons that men are suited to certain roles while women are suited to others. In dancing, e.g. ballet? How many women can lift a man at arms height in the air with the grace of a male ballet dancer?

[greenmachine]

I'm sick of minority groups constantly trying promote their own agenda then shoving it down your throat.

[Ceam]

I'm sick of minority groups constantly trying promote their own agenda then shoving it down your throat.

I doubt he wants to shove it down your throat :-p.


I couldn't give a monkey's either way. Earlier this week some one was complaining because the female comedian wasn't dancing with another woman. You can't please all the people all of the time.

If people don't want to watch it, There are plenty of other channels to watch.

[Ceam]

The programme is as interesting as counting the grains of sand through an egg timer! It would not matter if there were two wallaby's dancing together - it is all the same! In these days, there are women who take up boxing, rugby, cricket, football etc., for no other reason than to show they can do it. A complete sham of course - they would not look so good when competing against men's teams. There are important biological reasons that men are suited to certain roles while women are suited to others. In dancing, e.g. ballet? How many women can lift a man at arms height in the air with the grace of a male ballet dancer?

What an arse you are.

[grassroots]

I'm sick of minority groups constantly trying promote their own agenda then shoving it down your throat.

Precisely.

[Home-Slice]

No problem with gay people at all, but watching a couple of blokes grinding round the dance floor on a Saturday night would put me right off my fish and chips.

[said]

What an arse you are.

Gee, thanks! You are not so bad yourself.

[pedoja]

There is FAR too MUCH 'overthinking' things, at the moment!

[gsgsgs]

The programme is as interesting as counting the grains of sand through an egg timer! It would not matter if there were two wallaby's dancing together - it is all the same! In these days, there are women who take up boxing, rugby, cricket, football etc., for no other reason than to show they can do it. A complete sham of course - they would not look so good when competing against men's teams. There are important biological reasons that men are suited to certain roles while women are suited to others. In dancing, e.g. ballet? How many women can lift a man at arms height in the air with the grace of a male ballet dancer?

Well that's set women's lib back 20 years, get back in the kitchen where they belong!

What about female/male darts players, snooker players there's no biological reason they couldn't compete together.

I'd like to see a direct match between either of the Williams sisters and Andy Murray, wouldn't be in a rush as to where to put my money.

As for the actual topic, couldn't care less don't watch it, but back in my 'youth' there were many a female group dancing around their handbags in nightclubs.

[Albion102]

The programme is as interesting as counting the grains of sand through an egg timer! It would not matter if there were two wallaby's dancing together - it is all the same! In these days, there are women who take up boxing, rugby, cricket, football etc., for no other reason than to show they can do it. A complete sham of course - they would not look so good when competing against men's teams. There are important biological reasons that men are suited to certain roles while women are suited to others. In dancing, e.g. ballet? How many women can lift a man at arms height in the air with the grace of a male ballet dancer?

Most women I know who play rugby (and I know a lot) do it because they enjoy it, not to prove some point or other about men. Sport is of course an artificial construct in any case with sets of rules designed to make it a worthwhile competition. Gender segregation in say boxing, is no different to having weight categories or indeed having different rules for different kinds of fights.