Strictly Come Dancing 2018 will continue with its traditional format of opposite-sex dance partners, the BBC has said.
Under pressure from a contestant and programme judges, the Corporation reiterated its longstanding position.
It explained: “Strictly has chosen the long-standing ballroom dancing format of mixed-sex couples and at the moment we have no plans to introduce same-sex couples.”
Important
Contestant Dr Ranj Singh, who regularly appears on ITV’s This Morning, claimed it would be important for homosexual couples to dance on programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing.
He said he would “love to” dance with a man, before adding: “We are making progress but I think there is still time to go.”
Head judge Shirley Ballas has previously said it would be “exciting” to see same-sex couples on the show.
And Craig Revel Horwood, himself homosexual, said last year that he hoped the programme would make the change in 2018.
Criticism
In 2017, the BBC resisted similar calls to include same-sex dance partnerships on the popular Saturday night programme.
Strictly has faced criticism in previous years for incidents involving swearing before the watershed, risqué outfits, and sexually suggestive dancing.