With European, Commonwealth and world boxing titles - not to mention a groundbreaking Olympic gold medal - Nicola Adams has already broken her fair share of boundaries as an elite sportswoman.

But soon the retired boxer will go one step further as the first celebrity contestant in Strictly Come Dancing's 16-year-history to compete as part of a same-sex couple.

Adams, who shares a home with model girlfriend Ella Baig in Leeds, was unveiled as one of 12 new contestants on the BBC show after her boxing career was curtailed by an eye injury.

"I guess it's just breaking those boundaries and showing people that it's OK," she said in an interview with the Guardian yesterday. "It's not such an uncommon thing: professional dancers dance with people of the same sex all the time; you dance in a nightclub with your friends.

"I just wanted to break down the thing of it being a big deal when it's not really a big deal."

Strictly Come Dancing is the one of the world's most commercially successful reality TV formats. Approaching its 18th series, in a format exported to 50 countries, the show regularly draws audiences of over 7 million in the UK.

A social dance of the privileged, ballroom dancing first appeared in 16th-century France before spreading across the world. In contrast, Latin dancing has its roots in the traditional dances of the indigenous cultures of Central and South America.

The smooth formality of ballroom compared with the rhythmic energy of Latin are heralded as examples of how Strictly Come Dancing celebrates diversity. But some critics have argued that its heteronormative format, using traditional male/female couplings, conflicts with the show's broader commitment to diversity and celebration of difference.

So, in the 2019 series the BBC decided to "test the water", and featured a dance performed by two men.

Afterwards, although the BBC received 189 complaints and was accused of ratings-chasing, support far outweighed the criticism.

Overall, the experiment was deemed a success, giving producers the confidence to add a same-sex couple to the 2020 line-up.

Definitely, say some. This is a powerful tool for positive social change. With evidence of a rise in racist and homophobic attacks, the BBC has an opportunity to open minds and challenge prejudices. It is a positive way to help some viewers accept people and situations they perceive as 'other', within the comfortable familiarity of their favourite TV show.

No, say others. Strictly is merely a reality TV show and should stick to providing viewers with entertainment and escapism. The producers are just trying to attract attention and increase their ratings, and their cynical PR stunt will have little impact.