Upcoming Strictly Come Dancing star Richie Anderson has shared a defiant message for social media trolls forward of his ballroom debut.
The Radio 2 presenter is one among 15 well-known faces at the moment in coaching for the brand new sequence of Strictly, the place he will likely be forming one half of the present’s third ever same-sex pairing.
Olympian Nicola Adams was the primary superstar to bounce with an expert of the identical intercourse in 2020, with John Whaite making it to the ultimate a yr later alongside Johannes Radebe.
Regardless of their recognition with the general public, each John and Johannes have spoken candidly in regards to the homophobic and racist abuse they obtained on-line on account of their partnership, with each stepping again from social media throughout their time on the present in 2021.
Requested about this throughout an interview with HuffPost UK and different media earlier this month, Richie admitted: “I don’t pay a lot consideration to trolls on-line. On the finish of the day, I’m doing one thing that I’ve all the time needed to do and having fun with myself.”
He continued: “We frequently deal with the trolls loads, however on my Instagram… there’s plenty of love, and extra persons are constructive than unfavourable. So, if someone needs to take 10 seconds of their day to say one thing arsey to me on-line, then that’s extra on them than me. I’m not going to cease doing what I’m doing.
“I’m having enjoyable, I’m on Strictly Come Dancing! And I’m so grateful to be right here. So folks can say what they need, actually. It’s a disgrace that individuals really feel that they should, however [they’re in the] minority.”
Richie additionally revealed that when he was first approached about signing up for Strictly, bosses gave him the choice of dancing with a male or feminine skilled.
“I went house and spoke to my different half,” he recalled. “This yr is our 10-year anniversary, and he stated to me, ‘you’ve obtained to do it, you’ve obtained to go on the market and dance with a person’.”
Richie added: “And he stated, ‘how would you’re feeling throwing a type of ladies up within the air? You’ll most likely injure them with how clumsy you might be’. So it was a no brainer, actually. And it’s such an honour.
“Watching John and Johannes final yr, and Nicola and Katya the yr earlier than, they have been majestic and I want, for me, as a homosexual teenager rising up that I’d have had that illustration on tv. I want once I was rising up I may have switched on primetime tv on a Saturday evening and seen two males dancing collectively.
“It’s truthfully impressed me, John and Johannes and Nicola and Katya are one of many causes I’m doing it this yr, I’m so impressed by them.”
Man Levy/BBC through PA Media
In the meantime, Richie additionally revealed he’s one thing of a Strictly superfan, admitting: “I’ve been to 3 area excursions up to now, I even managed to get second row one yr.
“I’ve been an viewers member at It Takes Two twice. This yr, I needed to get viewers tickets for the primary present however I obtained a name to be on it, so it’s one of the best improve ever.”
Becoming a member of Richie on this yr’s sequence of Strictly are celebrities together with actor Will Mellor, pop singer Fleur East, Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds and comic Jayde Adams. Try the complete line-up right here.
Strictly Come Dancing will launch on Friday 23 September at 7pm on BBC One, having been postponed by virtually every week following the loss of life of Queen Elizabeth II.
