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Privacy NoticeScottish comedian Susan Calman is a familiar face on the UK entertainment circuit, but her rise to fame was far from conventional – she spent seven years as a corporate lawyer before making the leap into stand-up comedy. When Strictly Come Dancing came knocking, the openly gay star, who publicly acknowledged her sexuality in 1993, found herself at the centre of controversy. After being partnered with male professional dancer Kevin Clifton, the atmosphere in the ballroom was electric. Even at 42, the Glasgow-born celeb is adored by many for her TV roles, including playing therapist Nadine in Channel 4’s Fresh Meat, and becoming a popular panelist on thought-provoking BBC Radio 4 talk shows. Her diverse career also includes presenting children’s shows on CBBC such as Extreme School. Susan isn’t one to sit back and relax. This autumn, in addition to impressing Strictly fans with her dance skills, she will take on a new challenge as she hosts a new daytime quiz show, The Boss, on BBC One. Despite facing critics who questioned why she didn’t choose a female dance partner on Strictly – a show that has never featured a same-sex dance pair before – Susan remained steadfast and true to herself. During the show’s launch, she admitted that she had been hoping to be paired with Kevin – she even keeps his picture on her fridge, reports the Express.
Susan had to defend herself for partnering with Kevin
(Image: (Image: PA))
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She confidently told the BBC: “No one can say I haven’t stood up for my community,” and continued, “I think politically, there’s nothing more powerful than having an openly gay woman on the biggest show on television, whose wife’s on the front row, doing what she wants to do.” Susan finds her greatest support in her partner, Lee Cormack. The lovebirds went from a civil partnership in 2012 to saying ‘I do’ in 2016, marking their unwavering commitment to each other. Responding robustly to criticism within the gay community, Susan asserted, “For the gay community to criticise me and try to get me what they want to do is, I think, as difficult as suggesting the straight community are trying to.”
Susan Calman shared the real reason she danced with a man
(Image: (Image: Daily Record))
Emphasizing her volition, she said, “No one is holding me hostage in this room, making me wear a dress and dance with a man. I want to learn how to dance… I have protested, I have picketed, I have fought, I have been spat on, I have been punched – and I want to dance.” Pointing out that she’s been singled out for more scrutiny than male celebrities who’ve been on the show, including the likes of Reverend Richard Coles, she felt the disparity deeply. Bringing attention to the apparent gender bias, Susan remarked, “I think what annoyed me slightly is that I seem to be getting it in the neck.”
She just wanted to dance on the BBC show
(Image: PA)
“Will Young didn’t get it, Judge Rinder didn’t get it, Richard Coles isn’t getting it. It seems to me as a woman, he’s not getting it the same way I am. And for me to be getting it is, I think, unfair.” Despite the criticism, Susan, who stands at just 4ft 10in, insisted that joining the show was the best decision she’s ever made. “The summer holiday is cancelled – I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing”, she exclaimed.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnKevin CliftonWill YoungStrictly Come Dancing
