'I can't believe they picked him over me!' Eggheads' CJ de Mooi claims Strictly bosses snubbed him for Jeremy Vine after he asked for same-sex dance partner
Eggheads star CJ de Mooi has blasted BBC bosses for being behind the times after claiming he was snubbed for a place on this year's Strictly Come Dancing because he asked for a same-sex partner.
The openly gay 45-year-old - who sits on the panel of the hit BBC quiz show - said producers opted to go with the programme's host Jeremy Vine after he asked to dance with a man during negotiations.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said: 'I can’t believe they picked Jeremy over me. I’m quite upset. It’s because I wanted to dance in a same-sex couple.
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Upset: Eggheads star CJ de Mooi (left) claims producers opted to go with Eggheads' host Jeremy Vine (right) after he asked to dance with a man
'Someone at the BBC told me at least for the foreseeable future neither Strictly Come Dancing or the US version Dancing With The Stars will have a same-sex couple on. How disappointing.'
He now suggests the BBC is too scared to rock the boat by introducing same-sex dancing duos.
The part-time actor added: 'The BBC has always been conservative with a small c, but maybe they perceive the viewership as more conservative than they actually are. Maybe they’ve got a bee in their bonnet about openly gay men in positive, sporty, outwardly masculine roles.'
However, Strictly bosses have stood their ground, insisting the show will keep its traditional format for the foreseeable future.
Brainy bunch: CJ, (left) best known for his role as a panellist on the hit BBC quiz show, accuses the corporation of being too 'conservative' to introduce a gender rule change on Strictly
A spokesperson for the show explained: 'Strictly is a family show and we have chosen the traditional format of mixed-sex couples. At the moment we have no plans to introduce same-sex couples.'
Meanwhile, a Strictly Come Dancing source told MailOnline: 'We never approached nor had any plans to approach CJ to participate in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing.
'CJ’s agent gave us the opportunity to consider him but there was only one person we ever wanted from Eggheads and that was Jeremy Vine and we are delighted that we got our man.'
CJ first came to prominence on the BBC after appearing on The Weakest Link. Although he was third contestant to be voted out, his ranting interview made him stand out.
He is well known for his outstanding general knowledge as well as his devotion to charity work, winning the celebrity race at the London Marathon in 2014.
Hot topic: The subject is not a new one; Strictly judge Craig Revel-Horwood recently claimed same-sex dance duos would be introduced in the next two years
The topic has been long discussed among those involved on the show.
Judge Craig Revel-Horwood claimed earlier this year that he believed the gender rules would change within the next two years.
'It’ll be either this year or next year, but most certainly, it will happen,' he told OK! magazine. 'They did it already in Hungary or somewhere.
'There are competitions throughout the world that have same-sex couples, you just have to decide who goes backwards, darling!'
Meanwhile, some of the professional dancers past and present have been less than open to the idea.
Outspoken James Jordan, who left Strictly last year, is adamant that ratings will plummet if two men or two women compete together for the trophy.
He explained: 'It’s wrong. I think they would lose so many viewers.
'I have nothing against same-sex couples, if they want to go and do their own competitions.
'But ballroom and Latin dancing is about a man dancing with a woman – that’s fact.'
Against: Outspoken James Jordan, who left Strictly last year, is adamant that ratings will plummet if two men or two women compete together for the trophy
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