Strictly’s Nicola Adams says she doesn’t know why same-sex pairing became such a ‘big deal’

Olympic boxer is rumoured to be dancing with Katya Jones on show

Nicola Adams has commented on being part of the first ever Strictly Come Dancing same-sex couple.

The Olympic boxer, who has been praised as an LGBT+ role model, told the Daily Star she asked BBC bosses to be partnered with a female professional dancer when she signed up to take part in the show earlier this year.

“It was important to me because of diversity,” she said. “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: “I think it’s really good to be able to show diversity for the younger generation.

“It’s nice for members of the LGBT community to be able to think to themselves, ‘That could be me one day dancing on Strictly.’”

Nicola Adams won gold at flyweight (PA)

Adams was recently spotted leaving rehearsals with professional dancer Katya Jones, causing speculation that the two are in a pair.

Her fellow contestant Bill Bailey recently admitted he does not know what he is in for on the show, just weeks before it begins.

Bailey told Good Morning Britain: “I don’t really know much about what's going on. We haven’t really started properly at all. At this stage, I’m a little bit in the dark about it.”

He added: “Obviously I’ve seen the show. As far as the training and who I’m going to be dancing with... I’m still in the dark.”

Strictly is reportedly set to premiere on 24 October and run until 19 December, meaning the series will be just nine weeks long, compared to the usual 12 weeks.