Nicola Adams gained gold medals on the Olympics in 2012 and 2016
Olympic boxer Nicola Adams will make Strictly Come Dancing historical past by changing into the primary contestant to be a part of a same-sex pairing.
She advised BBC Breakfast she was the one who prompt having a feminine partner when producers requested her to participate.
“I feel it is actually essential,” she stated. “It is positively time for change.
“It is positively time to transfer on and be extra various, and it is a sensible step in the best path.” Her dance partner has not but been revealed.
Adams stated she did not thoughts who she’s paired up with, however added: “I might solely be wanting any person who’s perhaps a bit of bit on the brief aspect as a result of I am a bit of bit small.”
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She advised Breakfast: “It is going to be good for the LGBT neighborhood to have the ability to see there are same-sex {couples} on the present as effectively.”
Adams gained a gold medal for Nice Britain on the London 2012 Olympics, and once more in Rio in 2016. She retired from from the game final yr.
Requested whether or not the concept to have a feminine partner got here from her or the present’s producers, she defined: “I requested the present about it. They wished to know if I wished to be on the present and I stated, ‘Yeah, I will do it, however I need to dance with one other feminine dance partner.'”
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Strictly has beforehand featured two male professionals dancing collectively in a one-off routine, when Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prima carried out to Emeli Sande’s Shine final yr.
Some applauded the present for the routine, however the BBC acquired 189 complaints from viewers who discovered it offensive.
Adams would be the first movie star to be a part of a same-sex couple within the BBC One present’s 16-year historical past.
She joins Clara Amfo, Max George, Ranvir Singh, Caroline Quentin and Jason Bell on this yr’s line-up.
“I can not dance in any respect, so that is going to be a very new problem for me,” Adams stated. “The one factor I have been doing is TikToks, and that is about so far as my dancing goes.”
Different British expertise exhibits exhibits have featured same-sex pairs. Earlier this yr, pop star Ian Watkins – higher generally known as H from Steps – was paired with Matt Evers on the latest sequence of ITV’s Dancing On Ice.
The 18th sequence of Strictly will start in October however will likely be shorter than ordinary, and decide Bruno Tonioli will have a diminished function amid coronavirus restrictions.
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