Ian ‘H’ Watkins will be partnered with Matt Evers on the upcoming series of ‘Dancing on Ice’, in the show’s first ever same sex dance couple.
The 43-year-old former Steps star will make history on the ITV ice dancing competition when it airs next year, and he’s been partnered with a male professional, making him the first contestant to ever be paired up with a professional of the same sex.
A show source revealed to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: "After conversations with the ‘Dancing on Ice’ production team, H enquired as to the possibility of being paired with a male pro skater.
"Bosses at ‘Dancing on Ice’ are fully supportive of a same-sex partnership, so this year H will be paired with Matt.
"It’s a huge moment in TV history. A lot of viewers will be watching and the hope is it might set a trend."
H will be partnered with Matt, also 43, who has been skating on the show since it began in 2006.
Matt has won the show once in 2008 when he was paired with Suzanne Shaw, and came second with Jorgie Porter in 2012, and third alongside Bonnie Langford during the shows first series. This year, he was partnered with Gemma Collins, and they finished in eighth place.
The move to have a same-sex dancing duo comes as rival show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ – which airs on BBC One – said it was "proud" to have featured same-sex pairs during the professional group numbers, and hinted it could allow same-sex competitor pairs in the future.
A BBC spokesman said this year: "We are completely open to the prospect of same-sex pairings between celebrities and pro dancers in the future, should the opportunity arise."
The ‘Dancing on Ice’ pairs will officially be revealed in a special Christmas edition, ahead of the series premiere in January.
This series, John Barrowman will replace Jason Gardiner on the judging panel.
Ian ‘H’ Watkins to be in first ever Dancing on Ice same-sex pair
