Strictly Come Dancing set to have another same-sex pairing this year

THERE will be a same sex pairing on Strictly Come Dancing this year –though it might not be who fans think. It’s been three years since the BBC One dance show had two men or two women partnered up, and that was when Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin formed a duo. Strictly Come Dancing set to have another same-sex pairing this year (Layton and Nikita pictured in 2023 on the show) Credit: PA Fans will see actress Bethany Antonia dance with a woman on the show Credit: @bbcstrictly/Instagram This year many expected it would be gay stylist to the stars Chris Appleton who’d dance with a man, but he has actually asked Beeb bosses if he can be paired with a woman. The same sex pairing this year will be House of the Dragon actressBethany Antonia who specifically requested she be partnered with a woman. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! Antonia publicly confirmed she was a member of the LGBTQ community two years ago when she responded to a troll who made a racist remark toher online. She said: “Everyone in my life has always known I’m gay. Bethany confirmed she was a member of the LGBTQ community two years ago Credit: Getty Nicola and Katya dancing together on the programme back in 2020 Credit: PA “It’s just another part of my life that I’m equally proud of being a Black woman. “So it was more of a hit back to say to the people, ‘Well, there’s another part of me that they’re going to hate.’” The first ever same sex pairing on Strictly was boxer Nicola Adams andKatya Jones in 2020, and the last all female pairing was Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer in 2022. When Layton and Nikita competed in 2023 they made it the final and were beaten by winners Ellie Leach and Vito Coppola. Most read in TV The BBC have yet to confirm which celebrities are being paired up with which pros and the first show launches on September 19 on BBC One. Strictly was approached for comment. Comment now