Strictly rules out same-sex couples

\'Strictly Come Dancing\' will not feature same-sex couples this year.

Although there had been some discussion about the BBC dancing show including same-sex couples for the first time this year, bosses at the channel have decided not to change the format in 2018.

A spokesperson for the show said: "Strictly has chosen the traditional format of mixed-sex couples and at the moment we have no plans to introduce same-sex couples."

Meanwhile, former contestant Judge Robert Ringer recently said it would be game-changing if the BBC decided to have same sex couples on the programme.

The 40-year-old \'Judge Rinder\' star appeared as a contestant in the 2016 series of \'Strictly\' and reached the quarter-finals before being voted off with dance partner, Oksana Platero.

He said: "I don\'t think it\'s that controversial. In Blackpool they have loads of same-sex partners, particularly women dancing with women because there aren\'t enough men.

"Look, it would be great if that happens because that visibility really does matter. \'Strictly\' is a big part of some people\'s lives and for a young gay person going through [a difficult time], they could see that it can be fun, joyous and OK.

"People say society is post-gay, but there are places in London where it is still unsafe to hold the hand of your partner, so it could be game-changing."

The celebrity judge admitted he took everything in the contest with a pinch of salt and felt lucky to be given free dance lessons.

Robert added: "I mean, no one f**king died. It was tedious having all these journalists telling me how hard I must be working. It was a privilege really and I was being given free dance lessons. It wasn\'t as if I was up in front of some snaggle-toothed Wykehamist judge explaining to him why someone should be granted asylum."