H from Steps petitions Dancing On Ice to cast transgender contestant for 2021
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H from Steps says Dancing On Ice should continue the trailblazing work they have done for the LGBTQ+ community by casting a transgender contestant for the 2021 series.
The 44-year-old singer – real name, Ian Watkins – made Dancing On Ice history last year when he was unveiled as the first ever same-sex partnered contestant on the long running ITV show.
H was paired with 44-year-old ice skating professional Matt Evers, with the pair competing on the series when it started airing at the beginning of this year.
The decision to include a same-sex pairing on Dancing On Ice has been regarded as one of the reasons Strictly Come Dancing have this year announced Olympic legend Nicola Adams as their first ever contestant to dance in a same-sex pairing.
(Image: PA)
The news has been welcomed by H, and he hopes that Dancing On Ice will continue to support LGBTQ+ causes and become a further trailblazer by featuring a transgender contestant.
He told The Sun: “Everyone knew it was going to be two girls on Strictly this year because we did it in Dancing On Ice last year .
“I messaged the Dancing On Ice producers telling them they should get a trans contestant.
(Image: Matt Frost/ITV/REX)
“We need to embrace all of those minorities so we can become one whole fabulous community.”
The singer says it is important for prime-time family shows such as Dancing On Ice and Strictly to include LGBTQ+ participants as it will help encourage tolerance and stamp out homophobia and transphobia.
He said: “There’s some really f***ing nasty people around. The messages of hate are just still awful in this day and age.”
(Image: PA)
On Monday, Steps revealed they are making a comeback – and are poised to release their sixth studio album titled What The Future Holds with the title track written by music legend, Sia.
Announcing their return on Twitter the band wrote: “We couldn’t keep it a secret any longer!! Our new album What The Future Holds arrives on November 27th, and it’s available to pre-order from 8am tomorrow!”
The new album follows Steps’ phenomenal return to relevance in 2017 when they unleashed Number 2 charting album, Tears on the Dancefloor, and a sold out arena tour.
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