Adams, who won gold for Great Britain at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics, said he asked to dance with another woman before accepting to participate in a BBC program.
The move marks a milestone for one of the UK’s most-watched TV shows, linking celebrities with professional dancers and removing couples each week by public vote.
Despite its huge popularity, “Strictly” has faced criticism over the years for not showing gay participation in its list of competitors.
“I wanted to thank the BBC for supporting me and making me the first woman-pair, and it’s amazing to be part of the movement for change, diversity and breaking boundaries in the entertainment industry,” Adams, who is bisexual, told the BBC on Wednesday. Said in an interview.
Asked if he had decided to dance with a woman, she added: “I asked her about the show. They wanted to know if I wanted to come to the show, but I said ‘yes, I will, but I want to.’ Dance with another female dance partner. “
“Strictly” is the original version of the global franchise known as “Dancing with the Stars” in most other countries. The show has spread to dozens of countries, including the U.S. The version will premiere its 29th season of the month.
But some series, including the BBC show, have attracted criticism for not showing gay dance participation, despite including LGBTQ + contestants.
The Danish version of the show was won by a male couple last year, and the latest Irish version features a gay pair.
“I know it’s going to be difficult, I know training is going to be difficult and I can’t dance at all so this is going to be a brand new challenge for me,” Adams said Wednesday.
The show, which is usually filmed in front of a studio audience every week, will return later this year. The BBC has not yet confirmed whether it will feature viewers.
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