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Strictly Come Dancing 2020 introduced its first same-sex pairing to viewers last weekend; boxer Nicola Adams, 37, and professional dancer Katya Jones, 31. This series, changes such as social distancing measures have been put into place due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but this didn’t stop fans from tuning in, as the latest viewing figures show.
People kept telling me it will LOSE viewers as a result and that just didn’t happen.”
Kevin Clifton
Taking to his Twitter page, Kevin Clifton, 38, praised the show’s successful launch night after the BBC announced an impressive 8.6 million viewers were recorded last Saturday.
and told fans he had heard introducing a same-sex pairing to the series could put people off from watching.
In view of his 248,000 followers, he began: “For everyone who writes @bbcstrictly off or who keeps telling me people will stop watching if there’s a same sex couple.
“Highest launch show ratings in years,” he added, followed by clapping hands emojis.
His post prompted many Twitter users to share their thoughts.
One person queried Kevin and asked if he believed introducing a same-sex pairing was behind the high viewing figures.
Kevin replied: “No I’m saying people kept telling me it will LOSE viewers as a result and that just didn’t happen.”
Another wrote: “Never watched it, never will. Doesn’t entertain me in the slightest.
“How it’s worthy of BBC1 prime time beggars belief. Bring back mr Blobby.”
Hitting back, the ex Strictly star commented: “Well that doesn’t make sense does it Bradley?
“If you’ve never watched it you’ve no idea if it would entertain u or not and u wouldn’t be able to judge its worthiness of primetime.
“But I get it, u just came on to troll #twitter.”
A third commented: “Why’s Nicola Adams paired with another woman? Someone please explain?”
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He simply replied: “Why not?”
Nicola and Katya are the show’s first same-sex pairing in 16 years.
The boxing champion previously said of the new move: “It was important to me because of diversity.
“I just wanted to do something different and I didn’t get the big deal being paired with another female.
“We go to nightclubs and girls dance with girls all the time and professional female dancers dance with girls all the time, so I don’t think it’s a big deal.”
She added to Daily Star online: “I think it’s really good to be able to show diversity for the younger generation.”
Kevin left the show after seven years back in March.
He won the main show with Stacey Dooley, who is now his girlfriend, in 2018.
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