BBC is considering plans to shake up Strictly’s traditional format by introducing same-sex partners.
This comes as an increasing number of LGBT campaigners say the show is not catering to a gay audience.
Richard Coles, who is starring on this year’s series of the show which opened last night, revealed ‘discussions’ were being held with the BBC over the issue.
Dancing queen: Susan Calman has admitted that she felt herself lusting after a man for the first time while preparing for her new stint on Strictly Come Dancing
The Church of England vicar told the Sunday Telegraph: ‘We’ve had a discussion about it actually, and I don’t know. I mean, it’s in no sense that anyone resists the idea in principle, it’s just a question of doing it.’
He suggested this year – which marks the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Decriminalisation Act – would be a fitting time to embark on the changes.
Sources at the BBC however said they were considering introducing same-sex couples but it wouldn’t be until next series.
This year’s contestant Susan Calman was targeted by online for agreeing to take part in the show and dance with a male partner.
TBC: It is not yet publicly known who Susan will be teamed up with for her ballroom experience
But the regular Radio 4 panellist said: ‘No one can say I haven’t stood up for my community.
‘I think politically there’s nothing more powerful than having an openly gay woman on the biggest show on television whose wife’s on the front row doing what she wants to do.
‘No one is holding me hostage in this room, making me wear a dress and dance with a man. I want to learn how to dance,’ she told The Sunday Telegraph.
A spokesman told the newspaper it had not ruled out introducing same-sex dancing partners on to Strictly but it would not be in the current series.
He said: ‘Strictly has chosen the traditional format of mixed-sex couples and at the moment we have no plans to introduce same-sex couples in the competition.’
Matthew Hulbert, serving police officer and chair of Leicester Police’s LGBT group tweeted: ‘When will there be a same-sex couple on #Strictly? Come on, producers, it’s 2017.’