New Strictly contestant John Whaite breaks down in tears after announcing he’ll dance in show’s first male partnership
BAKE OFF winner John Whaite broke down in tears on Instagram today after announcing he’ll dance in Strictly Come Dancing‘s first all-male partnership.
It comes after the BBC show’s first female pairing Katya Jones and Nicola Adams went down a storm with viewers last year.
His casting was announced on BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show this morning, with John, 33, later taking to social media to confirm the news in a sweet video.
The emotional chef told fans he’d received hundreds of positive messages about his signing.
He shared: “I’m actually crying real tears because of how nice you’re all being.
“I’m so excited to be on Strictly. It’s a dream come true and it’s even more of a dream to be doing the first all male partnership.
“There will be kids watching thinking it’s OK to be who you are. So thanks for all the messages, I’m going back to bed now.”
John was the fourth contestant announced this week behind actor Robert Webb, pop star Tom Fletcher, and presenter AJ Odudu.
It comes after The Sun revealed bosses are considering placing TWO same-sex couples in the 2021 line-up.
Bosses are considering TWO same sex couples this series…
Our TV source said: “Bosses are still looking at all the options but given the positive feedback from last year, they’re seriously considering having two same-sex couples, one male and one female.
“The show has to move forward and viewers loved last year’s series.”
Pro dancer Katya, 30, and boxing champ Nicola, 38, sparked complaints from a small number of viewers when they danced together in the Strictly final.
However earlier this year the BBC said the complaints about alleged “blatant projection of homosexuality” had been rejected and “not upheld”.
Judge Craig Revel Horwood, 55, called the complaints ridiculous at the time, adding of the pairing: “It’s about time and I think it’s absolutely brilliant, I really do.”
The BBC also responded by saying they were “proud” of its same-sex performances, adding: “The show is first and foremost about dance, the sex of each partner within a pairing should have no bearing on their routine.”
Strictly’s first ever same-sex dance between Johannes Radebe, 34, and Graziano Di Prima, 26, during the 2019 series registered a total of 300 complaints, which were not upheld by the BBC.
Bosses are keen on a wide range of celebs across different sectors and of varying ages signing up this year so the show can appeal to different fanbases — and maintain its position as the most-watched entertainment show on the box.
Most read in Reality
