Exactly, which is why in the real dance world same sex couples have their own competitions, and mixed couples have theirs. And as I said above, the judges would be in for a fall whatever they marked.

No, for the most part the changes they've made to " improve " this show haven't worked at all. Last year I think everybody had a moan about them - backing dancers performing in the studio being one of the the latest changes for example. Too many themed weeks and awful outfits / music choices being others. Many decisions they have done need to be overturned quite honestly.

Honestly, do people really think this is going to be a thing this year? Based on one interview with Craig (of all people) to promote Ru Paul's Drag Race (of all things)?

I could be wrong, but have filed this in the 'not gonna happen' part of the brain. If it does, I will spend launch night eating my ancient brown headgear.

Quick Craig, go and say something that will be guaranteed to knock Britain's Got Talent off all the Front pages.


....Good job !!!

Don't believe the headlines without reading the whole piece:


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/me...-10281565.html

So it's simply a three-day training course with no guarantee of a job.


Having said that, this same-sex couple idea is just box-ticking.

It would generate a tremendous amount of publicity for Strictly:

Some would accuse Craig and Bruno of biased.

There'd be so many complaints to Ofcom from the homophobic.

The BBC would be accused of box ticking.

Various religious organisations would speak out in condemnation.

There'd be outrage from some quarters if the couple were voted off first.

There'd be outrage from some quarters if the couple won.

The BBC needs to decide if all publicity is good publicity and try to gauge what it would do to their fight with X-Factor for ratings.

If Craig is so keen on the idea, maybe he should be the one to come off the judging bench and get out onto the floor as a pro to a male celeb.

I have wondered if they would ever do this. I think if done in the right way it could be fantastic.

This is a non event because the headline doesn't match the content. It's not going to happen any time soon (famous last words! ).

Would it be any worse than the pterodactyl screeching that occured here every time Alison Hammond got more than a 5?

I remember watching an episode of last year's Strictly: It Takes Two where they dealt with the subject of same-sex dancing couples. Joanne Clifton spoke to one such couple about their success and to me I found very fascinating.

Robin Windsor, who has departed the show, was as far as I am aware, the only celebrity dancer willing to dance with a same-sex partner.

Personally, I don't have a problem with it, particularly when the show attracts a gay fan base/audience. However, I can see the problems arising.

Unfortunately I don't think they would be capable of treating it as though they're just another couple dancing, the show would become all about that and whatever issues various parties have with it. Also, the thought of how Tess and Len in particular would treat a same-sex couple makes me cringe in advance.

I can't really see Strictly doing it any time soon, but I could imagine it as a separate series of all same-sex couples so they are all judged on a level playing field and the BBC could judge viewer reactions.

I agree with you - they haven't worked for me either.

But - the viewing figures are still remaining reasonably high, and that seems to be the bottom line.

I would prefer that they went back to the original idea of what Strictly was supposed to be and do an improved version of that.

Moira Ross was the only producer who made a raft of improvements (unfortunately not including keeping some of my favourite pros and using them better).

Same sex couples - is that going to make Strictly better? Its a change, so it will create interest and maybe keep viewing figures up.

It won't address the fundamental issues to which you and SeasideLady refer.

The quote from Craig sounds more aspirational than in the bag so I'll believe it when I see it. In terms of breaking certain sections of the Strictly audience in gently I would suggest having a female couple first but given the BBC's history of representing gay people it will probably by a camp man a la Louis Spence or Graham Norton. If Julian Clary hadn't already done it he would have been a shoe in

Also, I suspect a lot of straight men and women under 40 wouldn't mind dancing with a member of their own sex so it doesn't even have to be a gay thing.

In my extensive research on the new pros I came across an interview for Playboy Radio (yes, that's a thing) where Gleb was very keen to stress his heterosexuality. It would be hilarious if he got partnered with Christopher Biggins in his first series.

Gleb dear, we know you're straight. There isn't a gay man on earth that would have Dex Dexter hair. Anyway, this is Strictly, not humourless DWTS, so you need to man up because, in a few months time, you'll be on live television with Bruno grabbing a butt cheek and joking about how many White Russians he can down in one night. This is your life now.

If it does happen then I hope it's not a joke couple, otherwise is would do a disservice to same sex dancing pairs. Please, please don't make it the joke of the series.

Even though some broad-minded Strictly viewers would be happy with this I think that most SCD viewers are middle aged with middle of the road traditional views and would be put off watching the show if gay couples were introduced. Two women might work, but not two men. In my case preferably not at all. I don't see why gay men and lesbians have got to trumpet Gay Pride all the time. What they get up to in the bedroom is their business, wouldn't it be better if they could show that can do do normal straight stuff in the ballroom ?

There was a pair of men dancing together on a series of Britain's Got Talent a few years back. They weren't bad but it just doesn't work the same way as the pairings on Strictly do.

Two girls dancing together I suspect would be more acceptable, not least because part of the appeal of Strictly is the bling and costuming which an all male pairing simply could not pull off in quite the same way. There is precedent for this in the ballroom dancing world. In some disciplines, girls can and do dance and compete together as a couple in the juvenile and junior ranks.

Why not have 16 same sex couples?

Then all sorts of rumours would be created in the press. Which celeb is gay and hasn't come out?

Is dancing to I am What I am, a clue or a red herring?

They've missed out on the judges - start a rumour that one of them is gay - but which one?
I'm thinking Len - he does seem to like those sporty gercha men.

Why does it have to be to do with sexuality? There are plenty of same sex couples in open competition that are completely straight and this is the best way the beeb could introduce it because it'd take away the homophobes objections- Turn it into a case of showmance and steamy routines between same sex couples and it just won't work- It needs to be not sensationalised and just yet on with it

I agree with that completely.

The other problem with the idea of a same sex couple is that Strictly will make it more about the fact that it's a same sex couple than about the dancing. If the couple is treated exactly the same as everyone else, then there's no reason for there to be any problems. If Strictly turns it into a gimmick instead of taking it seriously, which knowing Strictly is only too likely, then it'll very possibly do more harm than good.

But it would be worth it for Tess's innuendos alone. Could she do those in a classy way - or would it reach new levels of cringe-worthiness?

It's Tess, she could make an award winning script sound cringeworthy, let alone gay innuendo!