The format of Strictly Come Dancing has remained unchanged since 2004, when the programme first foxtrotted into Britain’s living rooms.
Civilian celebrities are paired off with professional dancers of the opposite gender and compete weekly for the judges’ scores and the hearts – and votes – of the nation.
A theatrical dancing competition on steroids, Strictly trades in camp. Yet it’s taken the BBC 17 seasons to fling open the doors of its overstuffed costume closet and openly embrace the LGBTQ+ community.This year, Nicola Adams, the two-time Olympic boxing champion,will be dancing with another woman in the show’s first same-sex pairing.