Jason Gardiner would love to see same-sex couples on 'Dancing on Ice'.

Jason Gardiner

Jason Gardiner

The 47-year-old judge insisted he is "all for" same-sex couples on the show but insisted they would have to be gay to have "validity".

He explained: "I'm all for same-sex couples of 'Dancing on Ice'. Why not? If people were open to it, and I don't see why they wouldn't be, I'm sure ITV would have no problem embracing that. It would be great if we had a same-sex couple. I think for it to have validity [they would have to be gay], I think yes, it would.

"That's what you're saying, it's same-sex. It's not for any other reason that we would put two men together other than for the fact that they were promoting a sexual preference and a lifestyle."

However, Jason admitted the main problem with same-sex couples performing the ice-skating routines would be their size.

Speaking to BANG Showbiz and other media at the 'Dancing on Ice' launch at London's Natural History museum, he explained: "Where it gets difficult is in terms of content. Because what works with the male-female ratio is that generally speaking the male is taller than the female. So therefore, the female, slighter, will be able to be lifted.

"When you've got two men, generally about the same build, shape, height, that's where it starts getting a bit difficult.

"Because it's very difficult to press somebody your own size above your head.

"We would find it would be a new way of how we present that, and that's a challenge. That would be a challenge for the show to overcome, but I would welcome it, absolutely I would.

'Dancing On Ice' starts on ITV on Sunday, January 6.


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