Susan Calman's life journey - From corporate law to Strictly's same sex dance partner row

Scottish comedian Susan Calman is not an unfamiliar face in the UK entertainment scene, however, her journey to fame deviated quite a bit from the usual path - she worked as a corporate lawyer for seven years before venturing into stand-up comedy.

When Strictly Come Dancing came calling, the proud gay woman, who publicly embraced her sexuality back in 1993, wasn't left untouched by controversy. After being paired up with male professional dancer Kevin Clifton, the tension of the dancing ballroom was palpable.

Even at the age of 42, this Glasgow-born star is beloved by many for her TV roles, including playing therapist Nadine in Channel 4's Fresh Meat, and becoming a hit panelist on insightful BBC Radio 4 talk shows. Her varied career includes presenting childrens shows on CBBC such as Extreme School.

Susan isnt one to rest on her laurels. This autumn, besides wowing Strictly fans with her dance moves, she will embrace a new challenge as she presents a new daytime quiz show, The Boss, on BBC One.

Despite facing critics who questioned why she didnt choose a female dancing partner on Strictly - though it has never had a same-sex dancing duo before - Susan remained resilient and true to herself. During the show launch, she confessed how she had been hoping to be paired with Kevin - she even keeps his picture on her fridge, reports the Mirror.

She boldly defended her choices in no uncertain terms to the BBC: "No one can say I haven't stood up for my community," adding, "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."

In her personal life, Susan shares a strong bond with her partner, Lee Cormack. After their civil partnership ceremony in 2012, they solidified their love for each other further by getting married in 2016.

Susan retorted: "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.

"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."

She highlighted that she faced more criticism than her male counterparts who have appeared on the show, such as current contestant Reverend Richard Coles.

The former lawyer continued: "I think what annoyed me slightly is that I seem to be getting it in the neck."

"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 backlash, Susan, who is just 4ft 10in tall, expressed that participating in the show was the best choice she's ever made. "The summer holiday is cancelled - I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing", she declared.

Strictly Come Dancing is due to return to BBC One in December 2024.