Strictly viewers convinced incredible dancers will break show’s same-sex curse

| Deputy TV editor Published September 26, 2026 7:55pm Updated September 26, 2026 8:04pm Strictly fans want Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu to go all the way (Picture: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire) Everyone knows about Strictly Come Dancing’s infamous curse. Normally, the dark magic of the ballroom and the eldritch sorceries of stepping in time end in heartbreak for a couple close to the show. However, there’s another lesser-known curse that fans think might finally be broken. Specifically, fans have noted that female same-sex couples don’t tend to get very far in the competition. In fact, Week 5 is the furthest a female same-sex couple has ever got, when comedian Jayde Adams and Karen Hauer danced together in 2022. Get personalised updates on Strictly Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. However, after seeing Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu shake their stuff tonight, superstitious Strictly fans think that might be about to change. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video ‘Bethany and Nancy are about to finally end the curse of same sex female couples leaving early,’ wrote @zerkeymd on X. ‘My God, that was incredible.’ ‘They weren’t alone in thinking there was something special about the couple.’ @sasha_ddm was similarly impressed. ‘I absolutely love Bethany and Nancy already, and seeing two women dancing together makes my heart so incredibly happy,’ they tweeted. ‘Hoping and praying they go really far in the competition.’ @quandromache meanwhile added: ‘”That’s the first bit of good dancing we’ve seen all night” (He’s not wrong, though Bethany and Nancy were incredible and miles ahead of others!!).’ The pair had already impressed viewers. Fans were raving about Bethany and Nancy’s pairing last week, and even then they thought they had the makings of a pair destined for the finale. ‘Strictly FINALLY having a female same sex pairing with finalist potential is AMAZING,’ Strictly fan Siobhan wrote on X. ‘Nancy has been one of my favourite pros since the day she joined; I adore her energy and joy. She and Bethany are going to be a special partnership and a VERY important one!!’ Nancy joined Strictly in 2019, receiving her first celebrity partner two years later with CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson; however, t has been two years since she last got the chance to dance. I absolutely love Bethany and Nancy already and seeing two women dancing together makes my heart so incredibly happy!! Hoping and praying they go really far in the competition 🥹🥹#strictly— sasha (@sasha_ddm) September 26, 2026 Who are the Strictly couples for the 2026 series? The full line-up of celebrities and their pro dancer partners are: Lacey Turner and Vito Coppola Graeme Hall and Lauren Oakley Jowita Przystal and Lawrence Robb Will Best and Dianne Buswell Shaun Wright-Phillips and Alexis Warr Melanie Walters and Aljaz Skorjanec Mark Karmalita and Tabby Stoecker Julian Caillon and Dame Sarah Storey Maddie Ingoldsby and Cach Mercer Chris Appleton and Amy Dowden John Nellis and Katya Jones Carlos Gu and Jaime Winstone Nikita Kuzmin and Dani Dyer Kai Widdrington and Delta Goodrem Nancy Xu and Bethany Antonia Meanwhile, Bethany is best known for playing Lady Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon. The 28-year-old said she ‘couldn’t believe’ that she’d been cast in Strictly when she was announced in July. ‘I have grown up watching Strictly, and I am so excited to take the challenge on and (hopefully!) learn a new skill. See you on the dancefloor!’ she said at the time.’ Deals of the Day I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale Strictly Come Dancing airs on weekends on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Arrow MORE: Strictly Come Dancing fans beg BBC to fix glaring Josh Widdicombe mistake Arrow MORE: Who is Lawrence Robb and is he leaving Emmerdale to do Strictly Come Dancing? Arrow MORE: Victoria Beckham receives sweet gift from David after ‘offensive’ Katherine Ryan joke TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.