‘Strictly’ judge Shirley Ballas has no problem with Dr. Ranj dancing with a man on the show
The 'This Morning' doctor has expressed interest in having a same-sex dance partner.
By Will Stroude
Strictly judge Shirley Ballas has insisted she “wouldn’t be opposed” to This Morning’s Dr. Ranj Singh dancing with a man on the show.
Ballas, who replaced Len Goodman as head judge on the BBC dance competition last year, admitted she though same-sex dance pairings would be eventually be included on Strictly during an appearnace on Loose Women on Wednesday (August 22).
Asked about Dr. Ranj’s recent comments that he would “value” the chance to dance with a man on Strictly, Ballas told the panel: “I think everything in its good time. I wouldn’t be opposed to him dancing with another man.”
The 57-year-old, who will return to the Strictly panel alongside Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel-Horwood when the show returns to screens next month, continued: “We have same sex competitions in my industry. It’s movement to music at the end of the day.
“When I’m teaching a lecture, I have the little girls do the boys part, the little boys do the girls part so they understand about lead and follow and what to expect.
‘I wouldn’t be opposed to @DrRanj dancing with another man’ – @ShirleyBallas gives her verdict on same-sex couples dancing on Strictly Come Dancing 💙 pic.twitter.com/5uwhVdyPmS
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) August 22, 2018
“It’s two human beings that are moving to music at the end of the day, you’re judging the talent.”
The comments come Dr Ranj admitted he though the BBC allowing contestants to dance with a professional of the same gender was “incredibly important”, echoing similar comments made last year by then-contestant the Rev. Richard Coles, another gay man.
Meanwhile, Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander admitted this week that he would only take part in the series he if was allowed to dance with a male partner.
The BBC has remained unnomved by the calls, insisting it will stick to the “traditional” format of oppositie-sex pairings during the forthcoming series.
However, with Ballas’s latest comments, it seems much of the talent involved with the show would welcome the prospect of a same-sex pairing.
Strictly dancer Kevin Clifton tweeted last week that he have “no problem” with the change, while Judge Craig Revel Horwood has also previously backed same-sex pairings, saying: “I think a same-sex couple can exist. You only have to decide who’s going to go backwards.
He added: “In the world of competitions, there are same-sex couples that do it as well so there is no reason that can’t happen. The Beeb just have to decide if it’s something they want to do.”
Strictly Come Dacing is set to return to BBC One next month.