And if kept for SCD, could potentially give that couple an advantage over other couples in SCD, as well as making SCD marking more problematic.

In SCD, it would cease to be a level (or near-level) playing field.

Thanks for that explanation.

I can see how that would work successfully.

Getting it to work on Strictly - would it be a mix of styles in the same competition?

From your point of view as a competitive dancer, does it seem ridiculous for me to want there to be a fixed standard to be achieved?
The reason I think that is I feel it is better for the pair to have something specific to aim for and for the judges to judge against.

I do agree that it would be awful if the presence of gay people on Strictly was turned into some sort of silly gimmick. I would hate to lose the sense of sober dignity that Strictly has afforded over the years to such contestants as Richard Arnold, Julian Clary, Scott Mills, Julien McDonald and Russell Grant getting fired face first out of a pretend cannon on a tea-tray at Wembley to "Reach" by S Club 7.

We've also had Arlene complaining that Matt Dawson didn't light her fire, Bruno calling for Rachel Stevens to ' Get the raunch out', Craig telling Alex Jones she was 'Cold, sexless and stiff'.

I'm not expecting high standards in everything, but I just think the show works better (for me at least) when they have something specific to achieve and the judges act like it matters to achieve it.

None of those were joke contestants though - all of them got treated like contenders and all of them did dances that topped the leaderboard at one point or another. The point remains that after 12 series there hasn't been a single openly gay contestant on the main show (you can add Jason Wood to the previous list) who hasn't been there primarily for comic relief (often at the expense of their campness), so the idea that same-sex couples would suddenly and inevitably make gay people on Strictly a joke or a "gimmick" in a damaging way so it's probably best if it doesn't happen doesn't gel with me. If Alan Carr comes on and gets partnered with Pasha and he does a comedy tango with a rose between his teeth and everyone laughs at the silly poof trying to look butch or whatever it'd hardly be any worse than what we've got now, and it would at least be something different.

I *get* objecting on purity of dahnce/competition or whatever grounds and I don't think it's homophobic or unreasonable but I do think you're swimming so hard against the current that you went over the waterfall about two seasons ago.

Yes - I think you are right. Strictly has morphed towards Burn the Floor and the 'Strictly' anything, is no more. I'm not expecting it to go back to the basics that I liked about it. Still holding to that opinion though.

I expect in the current format, same sex pairs will not be a big deal, although the tabloids may try to make it a big thing.

The producers would need a big name to pull something like this off, someone like John Barrowman would be perfect for this, someone with a high profile who already has a connection with the show having done the Christmas Special and someone who's capable of playing straight and gay...and a fine spokesman for all things gay

No it is absolutely not ridiculous of you to want a fixed standard.

In the world of "real" dancesport there are strict rules in place which are pretty much adhered to, in order to make competitions as fair as possible for all taking part.

This is one of the reasons why 90% (or even more!) of those who choose to dance as a same-sex couple prefer to have their own separate competitions. And those competitions consist of separate events for all-ladies and all-men, in order to keep the playing field as level as possible.

Unfortunately in Strictly there are no real rules. Being in a popular soap will score over good technical dancing; some celeb can't manage a fast ("proper-") speed quickstep or Viennese Waltz, and no need to worry, we'll dance to a slower tune, etc., etc.

And as for the judges having something to judge against: the problem is Craig knows something about ballroom, having danced it in Australia, but his interest is choreography and pizz-azz! Darcey knows ballet, but nothing about ballroom and Latin; Bruno knows what he has picked up over the years, but is still more influenced by the looks of a celeb. Which leaves Len as the only one who has the knowledge & experience to judge the actual standard. And, lets face it, woe betide him when someone like eg: Lisa Riley gets complimented to the hilt for her 'enthusiasm and energy' & Len does what he is paid to do and points out her dreadful, or lack of, technique.

Thanks for your explanation.

I'm not hoping they will go all out on acting like it is a real dancing contest, and I'm happy that it is judged on a mix of dancing and entertainment. That should give everyone some chance, and helps the judges too.

My views are looking obsolete now, with (it seems) quite a few times the music and theme are decided for the pro, and technique doesn't really get you much in return for a lot of hard work.

Possibly someone who can actually dance would be ideal for a first same sex couple. That way they can get recognition for their dancing and not have to rely on entertainment. As Monkseal said, we haven't had a gay contender on the show yet.

Has there ever been an openly gay woman on SCD? I know there have been rumours about some former contestants, but off the top of my head I can't think of an openly gay woman on the show?

That might be due to wider factors than Strictly itself. In the past there have been gay actresses who saw their career nosedive once they came out. Many gay pop stars try to leave their sexuality ambiguous, at least until they are old enough for their fans not to care. There are very few openly gay sportsmen and sportswomen.

Would Ronaldo, Beckham, or Wozniacki be asked to do underwear advertising if they were gay?

BIB^^^ I don't remember Julian Clary being a joke contestant. I seem to remember both him and Erin taking it seriously. Mind you, it was in the very early days of Strictly.

I fully understand the reasons why many gay people choose not to disclose their sexuality.

What I'm asking is whether there has been an openly gay female contestant? There are two gay male judges, three of the male former pros were gay, and there have been at least five male contestants who were openly gay. However, I can't recall a gay woman being a part of the show.

There are gay female celebrities who are out (just as there are male celebrities); do the producers not know what to 'do' with a lesbian contestant (less opportunity for the 'hilarious' 'campness'?) or have they been turned down by all the gay women they have approached?

It's quite an imbalance: 10+ gay men associated with the show over the years, but not one gay woman.

I'm another one who likes to see at least some attempt a level playing field and although it's taken some getting used to, I think these days the way the judges try(!) to be fair is with their scores for each show. The final leaderboard is more important these days than the individual scores. Every year on here we have the attempts to compare year on year scores for each dance, as well as within a series and it just isn't possible any more (I think it stopped being possible after S5).

We see a much wider mix of dances each week and even finalists don't all do the same dances in the end. Past dance experience is more come and/or extensive - experience of performing too. All of this variation should make it possible for a same sex couple to take part without any problem with the current rules. It might have be problematical in the early days of Strictly, but the way the show is produced these days, I don't see why it should be a problem.

And whether or not one or both dancers in a couple are gay or just same sex shouldn't really come into it, just the performance on the night. Robin has volunteered and I'm not so sure if Ola volunteered or was just in support of the idea. For this reason, I think the producers should approach all the pros about the idea. That way there should be more celebs to choose from who would be up for the idea.

Alan Carr is on my dream Strictly wish list but I always imagine him partnered with Kristina. I would have a mini-flounce (ie for 10 minutes) if he got partnered with anyone else.

I'm miffed that we're not allowed Jeremy Sheffield, for being an uber-ringer and DOI alumnus. For all the people going on about the older generation not taking to same sex couples on Strictly, I know a woman in her eighties who has a crush on Jeremy Sheffield and couldn't give two hoots that he's gay. People in their seventies now were part of 1960s youth culture. I reckon there would be more moaning about the basic formula of the show being messed with again than actual complaints about gay people on the telly.

Believe it or not, to dance as part of a same sex couple, it is not a requirement to be gay.

I think most people understand that - though I'd doubt that the producers are capable of taking such a leap of interpretation, given their unflagging pursuit of cliche and literalism.

*** Breaking News ***

As you probably know from Twitter Jason Gilkison has started meeting with the Strictly producers this week to decide the creative direction of the new series. I have news, on good authority from one of his choreography assistants, that there will be a Diversity Week on Strictly, featuring a pro-celeb group dance with a montage of songs from the following musical -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4EDYVupd0A

I think you are right.

I think he was there to be funny, primarily, but the fact that he had panic attacks gave him a storyline they maybe didn't anticipate, and he was definitely helped by having Erin, who I think is better at doing camp than any other pro on the show whilst still keeping it grounded in technique. Nobody doing that showdance was there as a "serious contestant" though, let's be honest.

Having a straight same-sex couple on Strictly would seem totally toothless and random.

'On this year's Strictly Come Dancing newsreader Alastair Stewart will be strutting his stuff with Gleb Savchenko and DJ Edith Bowman will be shaking her booty with Karen Hauer.'

That would be change just for the sake of it.

That's been a modus operandi over the last few years.

I've tried, but I can't even imagine what this Diversity Week will be like and I don't lack imagination. It's a family show on at tea time and with only the pros and celebs to work with, just how can there be a Diversity Week?

***Slaps head*** I've just realised this is probably a joke by chachachavvy

Same sex dancing should be limited to half a dozen girls dancing in a ring round their handbags, as it always was.

Oops! I was hoping the 'I Love Willies' song would give it away. Who knows, though? Maybe we'll see Anton and Anne Diamond doing a disco-tango to it next series.