Nicola Adams forced to quit Strictly Come Dancing after dance partner Katya Jones tests positive for COVID-19
Nicola Adams (L) and her Strictly Come Dancing partner, Katya Jones. (Strictly Come Dancing/BBC)
Nicola Adams has been forced out of Strictly Come Dancing after her dance partner Katya Jones tested positive for COVID-19.
The news was confirmed by the BBC on Thursday, with LGBT+ fans left devastated as the show’s first foray into queer representation came to a sudden end.
Jones is currently asymptomatic, but both dancers will have to self-isolate separately in line with COVID-19 guidelines. Because of the shortened season, neither dancer will be able to return to television screens this year.
Nicola Adams ‘gutted’ to leave Strictly Come Dancing after Katya Jones tested positive for COVID-19.
Nicola Adams, upon leaving Strictly Come Dancing, said she was “absolutely devastated” that her time had come to an end so soon.
“I had so much more to give and so many people to win this for!” Adams said.
“But I just want to say a huge thank you to Katya for being the best dance partner anyone could ask for.
“She pushed me way out of my comfort zone and it’s been an incredible experience. I’m gutted to be out of the competition but in these unprecedented times and as frustrating as it is, the COVID measures in place are to keep everyone safe, and I’m doing what I can to help.”
Adams continued: “I’ll be spending the next 14 days isolating so I’d like to apologise in advance for the ridiculous amount of TikToks I’ll be posting, in my new found free time when I’m not gaming!”
Meanwhile, Katya Jones praised her Strictly partner as “an absolute inspiration”.
I’m gutted to be out of the competition but in these unprecedented times and as frustrating as it is, the COVID measures in place are to keep everyone safe, and I’m doing what I can to help.
“She’s given her all each and every week and we were so excited to create more dances in the competition. Of course, I’m devastated to leave this way but I’ve made a friend for life and loved every moment of this special journey.
“I’d like to wish good luck to all the remaining couples!”
Executive producer Sarah James said the news was “incredibly sad” and praised both Strictly stars Nicola Adams and Katya Jones for their commitment and dedication to the dance contest.
“They are a brilliant partnership and had already achieved so much during their time on the show. We’d like to thank them for their commitment and although their time in the competition has sadly come to an end, we are hopeful that there will be opportunities for them to dance again in the future.”
The BBC said that the rest of the cast was unaffected by the result and that the next episode will air as normal on Saturday night.
There has been an outpouring of love for Adams on Twitter, with many expressing their sadness that her Strictly Come Dancing journey had come to such an abrupt end.
https://twitter.com/ErisEnvy/status/1326927714075484161
Proper gutted for Nicola Adams 😢
— Charlene White (@CharleneWhite) November 12, 2020
What a shame about Nicola Adams – hopefully she will be back next year <3 #strictly— Claire Tallentire (@ctallers) November 12, 2020
https://twitter.com/fabsab5/status/1326931649796464646
What a shame… “Nicola Adams and Katya Jones are to leave Strictly Come Dancing after Katya tested positive for COVID-19.” #Strictly— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) November 12, 2020
LGBT+ fans are devastated after Nicola Adams left the popular BBC dance contest.
Adams’ departure will come as a devastating blow to LGBT+ audiences, with many queer people flocking to watch the lesbian boxer dance with Katya Jones in recent weeks.
The pairing was a remarkable first for Strictly Come Dancing, which had never paired two people of the same gender together before.
Strictly Come Dancing had faced sustained criticism from queer viewers in recent years for its refusal to feature a same-sex couple among its line-up – but that changed this year with Adams and Jones.
There was widespread joy when Adams was announced as the show’s first ever contestant to dance with a partner of the same gender – but there was also the usual backlash from the likes of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who said “families” would not want to watch a same-sex couple dancing together.
But Widdecombe was quickly proven wrong. The first episode of Strictly amassed the most viewers for a first live show in a decade, with 10 million tuning in to watch Adams dancing with Jones.
It was a landmark moment for LGBT+ representation on-screen – but queer fans had hoped to see so much more, a chance that has sadly been snatched by Jones’ diagnosis of COVID-19.
