Strictly Come Dancing probably won’t feature same-sex dance couples or Ed Balls
Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls won’t be appearing on Strictly Come Dancing this year – after same-sex dance couples were also ruled out.
Labour politician Ed Balls, a strong advocate for LGBT rights, had been rumoured to be competing on the popular BBC dance show this year after he was unseated as an MP last month.
However, in a ‘double-blow’ for viewers, his wife Yvette Cooper ruled out his appearance on the show – days after same-sex dance couples were also deemed unlikely.
Fans of the show had joked that the prominent politician should insist on pairing up with a male dancer, as the show’s bosses have resisted the plans.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood had hinted that changes will take place in the next two seasons to remove the rules restricting participants to male-female pairings.
However, he later conceded: “I was rather hoping for a same sex couple – I doubt that it’ll happen this year.
“But I’d love it to happen because that might put a spanner in the works.”
Labour leadership candidate Yvette Cooper joked today when asked of her husband’s plans: “It would conflict with filming in the jungle.”
Former Strictly star James Jordan recently claimed that it would be “wrong” to feature same-sex dance couples on the show.
He claimed: “It’s wrong. I think they would lose so many viewers.
“I have nothing against same-sex couples, if they want to go and do their own competitions.
“But ballroom and Latin dancing is about a man dancing with a woman – that’s fact.
“It annoys me that people like Craig can say this because he’s gay. That’s the only reason he’s pushing it.”
