Gay Dancing on Ice star Colin Jackson reveals he turned down a same-sex partner for one simple reason
Colin Jackson turned down the chance to dance with a man on Dancing on Ice. (ITV)
Dancing on Ice star Colin Jackson has revealed that he turned down the chance to have a same-sex dance partner on the most recent, 2021 series of the dancing contest.
Jackson, who came out as gay in 2017, made his debut on the ITV series on Sunday (17 January), where he performed with pro-skater Klabera Komini.
The athlete has now revealed that he was given the chance to dance with a male partner – but he turned it down because he gets along better with women.
When asked why he is not dancing with a man on the show, Jackson told The Sun: “I get on better with women, to be honest.”
Jackson went on to praise Ian ‘H’ Watkins from Steps, who won plaudits in 2020 when he became the first contestant in the show’s history to dance with a same-sex partner.
“H and Matt were absolutely brilliant last year. It was fantastic what they did,” he said.
He added: “I could have danced with a man on Dancing on Ice. But I didn’t want to.
“Me and my dance partner Klabera have an absolute blast. We are giggling all the time – and sharing too many sweets – mainly wine gums!
“If you are going to be with someone 24/7 it better be someone you get now with – and we get on so well.
“Also I’m a bit of a traditionalist – when I was on Strictly I danced with a woman too.”
Colin Jackson came out as gay in 2017.
Jackson came out publicly as gay during an interview on the Swedish programme Rainbow Heroes.
In the interview, Jackson revealed that he did not come out sooner because he didn’t want his sexuality to be “sensationalised”.
He said: “The way you asked me, it was a whole storytelling kind of thing and you were just interested in the way it affected me sports-wise, emotionally-wise and my preparation.”
He previously finished in second place when he competed on BBC rival Strictly Come Dancing in 2005.
