Former Strictly star James Jordan has warned television bosses that if they keep ticking boxes then there will be no white, heterosexual men on our screens any more.
In a blistering attack on the showbusiness industry’s pledge to become more diverse, Jordan, 45, also said there needs to be an end to all female presenting duos – such as Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman who host the BBC One dance show he starred on for seven years between 2006 and 2013.
The ballroom dancer’s comments came after he was asked who should present ITV skating show Dancing On Ice – which he won in 2019 – alongside Holly Willoughby when she returns to it next year without Phillip Schofield – and insisted he must be a man.
When asked if the ITV dance show should follow in Strictly Come Dancing’s footsteps by having two female presenters at the helm, Jordan replied: ‘No! Stop trying to tick boxes all the time. Have a man and a woman present Dancing On Ice.
‘I like to see men present as well otherwise we’re going to see no white, heterosexual men on TV any more.’
