A vicar contestant on Strictly Come Dancing has renewed his call for the hit BBC programme to allow same-sex partners to compete.
Rev Richard Coles said the change would be timely if it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Sexual Offences Act (1967), legislation which partly decriminalised homosexuality.
The Northamptonshire church leader was quoted by the Express newspaper as saying: "I thought this might be the year to have a nod in that direction."
"I think everything is moving that way and if it happened it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I would welcome it.
"But then what do I know, I am not a dancer. One thing I have discovered from my time on Strictly is how a man and a woman dance together."
Earlier this month, Rev Coles told Digital Spy he had spoken with bosses on the show about allowing contestants to dance with a partner of the same sex.
Rev Coles, who lives with civil partner Rev David Coles, joined the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing with dance partner Dianne Buswell.
Formerly one half of the 1980s pop band The Communards, Rev Coles is currently a vicar of St Mary the Virgin Church in Finedon near Kettering.
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