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'Strictly Come Dancing' makes show history with first ever same-sex competitive dance

Picture Shows:  Nicola Adams, Katya Jones - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy
Picture Shows: Nicola Adams, Katya Jones - (C) BBC - Photographer: Guy Levy

Strictly Come Dancing has welcomed Nicola Adams and Katya Jones to the dancefloor for the show’s first ever same-sex competitive performance.

For years, the question has been asked about whether a same-sex couple could compete, but this year the BBC has finally taken the suggestion to the ballroom with Olympic boxer Adams and her professional dance partner Jones.

Before their quickstep, Adams talked about how pleased she was to have been matched with Jones, saying: “She’s very creative, she’s very competitive.”

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The pairing was certainly a hit with the judges, with Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood each giving them seven points for a total of 21 out of 30.

Ballas said: “This is a partnership I’m really going to enjoy watching.”

Revel Horwood said: “They proved it’s absolute dynamite, I absolutely adored that routine. What a fantastic, fantastic partnership.”

Fans of the show were equally impressed by the momentous first for Strictly.

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Elsewhere in the ballroom, HRVY and his partner Janette Manrara, and Maisie Williams with her partner Gorka Marquez impressed the most and took the top spots on the leaderboard.

Popstar HRVY managed a 9 from Mabuse in his first dance of the series and scored a total of 25 points out of 30, with EastEnders actor Williams not far behind on 24.

Caroline Quentin and Bill Bailey also delighted viewers with their routines, while Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing opened the show after having had to drop out a year ago with an injury sustained in the launch show.

But it wasn’t just his dancing that got viewers talking, as everyone noticed a striking similarity between him, his dance partner Karen Hauer, and dialling in judge Bruno Tonioli.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 7.15pm on BBC One.