Should there be same-sex dance partners on Strictly? 

The debate has not-so-much been raging on, but rather fizzling away as the BBC show gets more and more popular. But every year there remains a few people asking the question: why are there no same-sex couples on Strictly?  Former contestant Judge Rinder has now weighed in on the debate, claiming that the call for same-sex dancers is "absurd." Speaking to Radio Times magazine about his time during the show in 2016, he said:

“My sexuality, in terms of Strictly or whatever else I do in my life, ought to be as irrelevant as the length of my big toe. Nobody would dream of asking gay players in the mixed doubles to be partnered with someone of the same sex."

Last year, Rinder, whose real name is Robert, partnered with Oksana Platero - and seemed only delighted to be doing so. According to him, ballroom dancing is a professional sport, so there would be no need for same-sex couples to take to the dancefloor. Rather than "politicising" shows like Strictly, the ITV star thinks that we should be focusing on activist groups who are making "a real difference."

“Would it be a big step forward for the LGBTQI community if there were same-sex couples on Strictly? Do me a favour! It would not improve the life of anybody to see a Scottish comedian doing jazz hands with another almost-certainly-not-gay woman on TV. There are plenty of organisations making a real difference to the lives of gay people around the country that do need our help, so why undermine the wonder of Strictly by politicising it?”

However, Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood has previously said that he hopes the BBC will introduce same-sex couples soon. Similarly, current contestant, Rev Richard Coles, argued that it made "no sense" to not want same-sex partners taking to the Strictly dancefloor. The BBC has "no plans" at the moment to make any changes to the show's format. Images via ITV.com and BBC.com