Strictly star Richie Anderson bravely came out to football teammates on national TV | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV
Richie Anderson, 34, is currently competing in this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing with last year’s winner Giovanni Pernice. However, before he took to the dance floor, he bravely chose to set an example by coming out as gay to his football teammates on national television.
Before Richie joined the Strictly cast of 2022, he was best known for working on BBC Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.
The likeable personality was also formerly a Sunday League footballer who played for Coombs Wood F.C.
After a match in 2018, Richie made the bold decision to come out to his teammates as part of a documentary for The One Show, which aimed to highlight homophobia in the sport.
Speaking to his teammates on camera, he said: “One of the big issues we’ve looked at this week, erm, it’s really close to my heart, is homophobia in football.
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“The reason why that means a lot to me is – I’m a gay footballer. So I just wanted to be open and honest with you lot. It’s just been class.
“This is really hard for me to do…” he continued before his teammates broke into applause.
“So relieved,” Richie admitted afterwards. “So, so relieved. I can’t even tell you.
“I expected it as they’re a good bunch of lads. It probably helped that I scored as well, but I’m so relieved.”
“They actually gave me the option,” he said. “They rang me up and they said, ‘We want you to be on Strictly this year’ – I ran off screaming and they were like, ‘Can you come back to the phone?’
“They went, ‘We’re booking you for you, so it’s up to you whether you want to dance with a female partner or a male partner.’
“I spoke to my partner Dean and this year is our 10-year anniversary and we have to – for our 10-year anniversary – it’s the 50th anniversary of Pride this year as well – we have to dance with a man.
“So we spoke about it and I can’t imagine me lifting a female pro up but… I just can’t wait to be out there and I’m proud to be dancing with one of the male pros and I hope they feel the same way!”
