Strictly Come Dancing viewers are overjoyed after the show had it's first ever same-sex performance over the weekend. Fans of Strictly Come Dancing, celebrity contestants, judges AND the professional dancers have all recently expressed their desire for a same-sex couple on the show - and it appears that the calls have been heard after all.
Although ballroom and latin dances are traditionally performed by mixed-sex couples, a whole host of Strictly stars have thrown their weight behind a need to update the old way of doing things to accommodate modern times.
The results show on Sunday evening (30th Sept) featured a performance as always by the professional dancers - but instead of being partnered with mixed-sex couples, the dance was performed by same-sex couples, with Gorka Marquez and AJ Pritchard opening the show together.
Viewers were then shown how all the couples were same-sex, with Neil Jones and Kevin Clifton, Katya Jones and Nadiya Bychkova and Aljaž Škorjanec and Pasha Kovalev all dancing together.
RADIO Strictly Come Dancing couples - slider with cover pic
1 of 12Swipe through to see which couples found love on Strictly Come Dancing...
2 of 12Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole
On the first ever series of Strictly back in 2001, news reader Natasha Kaplinsky and professional dancer Brendan Cole were paired together.Despite both being in other relationships at the time, both Natasha and Brendan called off their romances and started dating after the series finished. Their relationship didn't last long though, and they are now both happily married to other people.
3 of 12Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna
It was love at first sight for former Hollyoaks actress Ali Bastian and her Strictly partner Brian Fortuna in 2009. With the pair both single at the time, Ali and Brian started a relationship, only for it to end the following year.
4 of 12Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff
When boxer Joe Calzaghe appeared on the show in 2009, he announced to the press that his relationship with his partner Jo-Emma Larvin had come to an end, just one week into his Strictly journey. Joe's professional dance partner Kristina Rihanoff was more than a shoulder to cry on, with the pair starting a romance. They went on to date for four years after show, before announcing their split.
5 of 12Ben Cohen and Kristina Rihanoff
After her relationship with Joe Calzaghe fell apart, Kristina later met another Strictly contestant, England rugby ace Ben Cohen. Both Ben and Kristina have denied rumours that Ben was still with his ex-wife Abby Blayney at the time they started dating, with the pair claiming they didn't get together until a year later. Things are going well however, the pair now share a daughter together called Milena and are in a happy relationship.
6 of 12Kara Tointon and Artem Chigvintsev
After her split from Joe Swash, actress Kara Tointon appeared on the 2010 series of Strictly and mended her broken heart with a little help from professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev.Despite this, things didn't work out for the couple and Kara is now loved-up with her boyfriend Marius Jensen, with rumours suggesting she could be pregnant with the couple's first child.
7 of 12Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
When Countdown presenter Rachel Riley appeared on Strictly in 2013 she was married to her ex-husband Jamie Gilbert. However, after just 16 months of marriage, the pair announced they were set for divorce in November 2016. Fast-forward to 2016 and Rachel revealed she was in a relationship with her 2013 Strictly partner Pasha Kovalev... And they are still together!
8 of 12Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice
Georgia May Foote was dating her Coronation Street co-star Sean Ward when she joined the show in 2015. But when rumours circulated that the couple's relationship wasn't going well, they split in December 2015. Georgia was then spotted getting very cosy with her Strictly partner Giovanni, with the pair enjoying a holiday to Disneyland Paris for New Year.Despite this, the couple ended their relationship in August 2016.
9 of 12Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg
After weeks of rumours, Joe Sugg appeared to confirm his relationship with Strictly Come Dancing partner Dianne Buswell with a photo on Instagram, the caption read, 'I may not have won the glitter ball, but I've won something a million times more special.'
10 of 12Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez
Radio presenter Gemma Atkinson and professional dancer Gorka Marquez were first linked in the 2017 series, and got together whilst on the 2018 annual tour together. They moved in together in December 2018.
11 of 12Giovanni Pernice and Ashley Roberts
Professional dancer Giovanni Pernice and Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts were forced to deny they were dating during the 2018 series, but Giovanni confirmed the relationship in January 2019.In January 2020, the duo confirmed they'd split.
12 of 12Caroline Flack and AJ Pritchard
Official news on whether these two are dating is yet to be confirmed, but 2014 Strictly winner Caroline Flack was spotted kissing professional dancer AJ Pritchard at the 2019 NTAs.
Viewers were thrilled by the performance, with many taking to Twitter to express their happiness over the development.
AJ spoke to Attitude magazine ahead of the performance, saying, "It has a paso doble/Argentine tango feel and we were technically dancing it together as a partnership.
"The strength of having two males dancing — or two females — is unrivalled. I’m dancing with Gorka, we’re doing lifts, we’re doing a concept that’s not been done on the show before."
Calls for same-sex partnerships on the show have been backed by plenty of celebrities, but most notably judges Craig Revel-Horwood and Shirley Ballas.
Craig told Good Morning Britain last month, "I'm totally for it. I don't see why a woman can't dance with a woman or a man dance with a man, you just have to choose who goes backwards and that's usually who is shorter. It's an easy thing to achieve."
Last night's episode saw fashion guru Susannah Constantine booted off the show in this year's first elimination with her partner Anton Du Beke. Here's everything you need to know about this year's Strictly Come Dancing...
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