Colin Jackson has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to dance with a same-sex partner on Dancing on Ice. The former Olympic athlete, 53, is partnered with skater Klabera Komini for the 2021 series. He came out as gay in 2017 and could have followed in the footsteps of Ian 'H' Watkins, who made history on DOI last year when he was partnered with Matt Evers.
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Explaining his reasons for choosing a female partner, Colin told the Sun: "I could have danced with a man on Dancing On Ice. But I didn't want to. I get on better with women, to be honest."
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He continued: "Me and my dance partner Klabera have an absolute blast. We are giggling all the time – and sharing too many sweets. Mainly wine gums! Also, I'm a bit of a traditionalist – when I was on Strictly I danced with a woman too."
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Colin finished as a runner-up in the 2005 series of Strictly with his partner Erin Boag – just losing out to cricketer Darren Gough. In 2006, however, he became the first competitor who had not won the main series to triumph in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
Colin is partnered with Klabera Komini for the 2021 series
Colin and Klabera are set to perform for the public for the first time this weekend. The competition is tight already; of the six couples who skated live last week, four are in joint first place with a score of 25.0. But host Holly Willoughby has already tipped her winner.
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The This Morning star chatted to HELLO! and other publications in a webinar ahead of the show's launch, and revealed that she thinks Myleene Klass has what it takes to win the 2021 series.
Holly Willoughby has tipped Myleene Klass to win the show
As she and Phillip Schofield discussed potential winners with Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, she said: "I think I’m going to go Myleene... I think she’s got musicality because obviously, she's a musician. She’s a performer anyway. And I just, I don’t know. I think she’s going to fall in love with it."
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She then joked: "That’s my little insider tip."
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