Strictly Come Dancing stars Nicola Adams and Katya Jones have confirmed they are the show’s first same-sex couple.
This year’s pairings are yet to be revealed however the professional boxer, 37, and the Strictly pro, 31, did little to quash rumours they have teamed up as they left filming together on Tuesday morning.
It was previously reported that Katya was desperate to be coupled with Nicola after admitting she would ‘love’ to be apart of the first same-sex pairing.
Confirmed! Strictly Come Dancing stars Nicola Adams and professional dancer Katya Jones have confirmed they are the show’s first same-sex couple
Earlier this year, Katya told the Sun: ‘I would love to dance with a woman on the show. I think creatively it would be really interesting and I love coming up with new ideas for stuff.’
Katya appeared to delighted to have gotten her way, as she flashed a broad smile while leaving secret location, where they are believed to have filmed their first meet up ahead of the show’s start date later this month.
She was wrapped up in a double denim ensemble, teamed with a grey mac and a colourful tartan scarf wrapped around her neck.
Beaming: This year’s pairings are yet to be revealed however the professional boxer, 37, and the Strictly pro, 31, did little to quash rumours they have teamed up as they left filming together on Tuesday morning
Dressed to impress: She was wrapped up in a double denim ensemble, teamed with a grey mac and a colourful tartan scarf wrapped around her neck
Exciting: It was previously reported that Katya was desperate to be coupled with Nicola after admitting she would ‘love’ to be apart of the first same-sex pairing
Katya left the building with Nicola following closely behind and it appeared that they were the only members of the cast at the location at the time.
Nicola was dressed down in a khaki and white hooded jacket, which she teamed with matching joggers, trainers and a black padded gilet.
Katya is said to be a ‘huge believer in girl power’ and was ‘telling everyone’ how much she wants to be paired with the Olympic gold medallist.
Keen! Earlier this year, Katya told the Sun : ‘I would love to dance with a woman on the show. I think creatively it would be really interesting and I love coming up with new ideas for stuff’
Katya is also apparently still keen to redeem herself after she was caught kissing her dance partner Seann Walsh, 34, in 2018.
Shockwaves were sent through the Strictly dance floor when married Katya was pictured locking lips with her comedian partner during a pub trip.
A source said: ‘She sees it as a chance to make history but also to redeem herself on the show after her scandal two years ago.
Happy: Katya appeared to delighted to have gotten her way, as she flashed a broad smile while leaving secret location, where they are believed to have filmed their first meet up ahead of the show’s start date later this month
All smiles: Katya left the building with Nicola following closely behind and it appeared that they were the only members of the cast at the location at the time
‘She’s a real girls’ girl and is keen to move on from that.’
They continued: ‘Equally, show bosses know that Katya will have everyone talking about her and Nicola if they partner them together.’
Katya is said to be ‘one of the most competitive dancers’ and is keen to ‘push the boundaries’ on the dance floor, according to the source.
Dream team! Katya is said to be a ‘huge believer in girl power’ and was ‘telling everyone’ how much she wants to be paired with the Olympic gold medallist
Chance of redemption? Katya is also apparently still keen to redeem herself after she was caught kissing her dance partner Seann Walsh, 34, in 2018
Producers decide the celebrity and professional pairings based on height, according to The Sun.
Katya measures at 5ft 5ins while former professional boxer Nicola stands at 5ft 4ins.
Earlier this year, Katya told the Sunday Mirror: ‘I would love to dance with a woman on the show. I think creatively it would be really interesting and I love coming up with new ideas for stuff.
It was announced last month Nicola is set to be in the first same-sex pairing on the BBC show, as she said in a statement: ‘It’s amazing to be a part of the movement for change, diversity and breaking boundaries in the entertainment industry.’
Controversy: Shockwaves were sent through the Strictly dance floor when married Katya was pictured locking lips with her comedian partner (pictured) during a pub trip
A source said: ‘She sees it as a chance to make history but also to redeem herself on the show after her scandal two years ago’
Speaking live from her home on BBC Breakfast, Nicola said of her groundbreaking all-female pairing: ‘It’s really important, it’s a big step for the show as well. It’s nice to see we’ve been able to move on and I just can’t wait to get some dancing done really.’
Revealing she approached Strictly with the idea for a same-sex pairing, Nicola explained: ‘I asked the show about it. They wanted to know if I wanted to be on the show and I said “yeah I’ll do it but I want to dance with another female dance partner.'”
‘It’s definitely a time for change and time to move on and be more diverse. This is a brilliant step in the right direction. It will be nice for the LGBT community to be able to see that there are same sex couples on the show as well.’
Fierce: Katya is said to be ‘one of the most competitive dancers’ and is keen to ‘push the boundaries’ on the dance floor, according to the source
Good match! Katya measures at 5ft 5ins while former professional boxer Nicola stands at 5ft 4ins and producers apparently match pairings on their height
Earlier this year, Katya told the Sunday Mirror: ‘I would love to dance with a woman on the show. I think creatively it would be really interesting and I love coming up with new ideas for stuff’
Nicola became the first female amateur boxer to win an Olympic gold medal at London 2012 and became double Olympic champion following her second gold medal win in Rio 2016 as well as being the first boxer in history to retain an Olympic title.
Katya and 38-year-old Neil Jones’s six-year marriage ended in 2019 months after pictures emerged of her kissing her dance partner Seann on a night out.
At the time, the comedian was dating Rebecca Humphries and Katya was still happily married to now-estranged husband Neil.
It was announced last month Nicola is set to be in the first same-sex pairing on the BBC show, as she said in a statement: ‘It’s amazing to be a part of the movement for change, diversity and breaking boundaries in the entertainment industry’
It’s over: Katya and 38-year-old Neil Jones’s six-year marriage ended in 2019 months after pictures emerged of her kissing her dance partner Seann on a night out (pictured together in 2019)
It comes after the BBC defended having a same-sex pairing on this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing last month after more than 100 people complained.
In a statement the corporation said the competition is an ‘inclusive show’ and they are ‘proud’ to have had same-sex numbers in previous series.
The BBC said: ‘Strictly Come Dancing is an inclusive show and is proud to have featured same sex dancing amongst the professional dancers in group numbers in previous series.
‘We have stated, in the past, that we are open to the prospect of including same sex pairings between our celebrities and professional dancers, should the opportunity arise.’
‘Nicola Adams requested an all-female pairing, which we are happy to facilitate. The show is first and foremost about dance, the sex of each partner within a coupling should have no bearing on their routine.’
Last year male professional dancers Johannes Radebe and Graziano Di Prima performed a same sex routine during the show’s seventeenth series.
While the dance – conducted during a performance by pop star Emeli Sande – was met with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response on social media, it prompted 200 complaints with TV regulator Ofcom.
Nicola recently spoke about her upcoming appearance on the show, saying she is ready to ‘break boundaries’ as part of first same-sex couple in show’s history.