'They were all chomping at the bit to get that pairing': Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood says 'taskmaster' Katya Jones will be the perfect dance partner for boxer Nicola Adams

Strictly Come Dancing's Craig Revel Horwood has claimed Katya Jones would be the perfect dance partner for boxer Nicola Adams.

The judge, 55, spoke candidly about the forthcoming season with Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng on Fubar Radio's Access All Areas on Thursday.

Calling the professional dancer, 31, a 'taskmaster', Craig admitted all the female dancers have been 'chomping at the bit' to be in the show's first same-sex couple.

Exciting: Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood claimed 'taskmaster' Katya Jones would be the perfect dance partner for boxer Nicola Adams as he spoke about the show's return

Of Katya potentially pairing with Nicola, Craig explained: 'Oh I think that'll be fabulous if it is in fact Katya.

'I hope it is, I mean she's fabulous. She's a taskmaster too, which I think is brilliant. And I think that's what a boxer will need.'

While he added: 'They're all sort of chomping at the bit to get that particular pairing because I think it gives them a much bigger sense of freedom and they'll be able to show off their leading skills.'

Sought after: Craig said 'everyone was chomping at the bit' to be a part of the first same-sex pairing role with boxer Nicola

On Thursday, Karen Hauer was said to be 'absolutely gutted' to have lost out to Katya in being coupled up with Nicola for the show's first same-sex pairing. 

The professional dancer, 38, was reportedly 'desperate' to team up with boxer Nicola and make history on the BBC show, with Karen even tipped as bookies favourite.

However, she's apparently been dealt a crushing blow as her fellow dancer Katya has bagged the coveted role as Nicola's professional partner. 

The news that Katya and Nicola are partnering up was seemingly revealed on Tuesday as they were seen leaving filming together - though the official couples have yet to be confirmed.

Something different: Of how all the female dancers wanted the role, he explained 'I think it gives them a much bigger sense of freedom and they'll be able to show off their leading skills'

A source revealed to The Sun: 'Karen is absolutely gutted. For ages she was the favourite to get the nod to dance with Nicola and had even gone as far as planning out routines for them to perform.'

They went on to say that the duo had got to 'know each other' quite well and had become 'good friends'.

The insider continued: 'She’d not only got her heart set on dancing with Nicola, she had prepared herself for it mentally. So for them to suddenly decide to pick Katya was a massive blow.' 

Crushed: On Thursday, Karen Hauer was said to be 'absolutely gutted' to have lost out to Katya in being coupled up with Nicola for the show's first same-sex pairing

Craig added that he thought it was 'fantastic' the show had finally decided to have a same-sex couple, as he had 'been championing this for five years'.

'The beauty about having two girls together is the pro girls never, ever get to lead,' he explained.

'They always have to try and make their celebrity partners, who can't really dance, lead them around the dancefloor, which is a nightmare.

'But in this situation of course, it's very exciting because it's the first time one of the girls, I don't know who that is yet, but one of them will be able to lead, which I think is going to be amazing!' 

Going on to detail the options the show has amid the coronavirus crisis, he went on: 'There is a plan for absolutely no audience. 

'I’ve experienced that before with the show in Australia where we couldn’t have any audience at all and it felt really weird at the beginning, I’ve got to say.

'I’m so used to being booed or having some reaction from the audience, so I sort of ended up booing myself or pretending that I can hear people.

'I go yeah, yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking at home, well let me say this. So there is a way around it.'

Supportive: Craig added that he thought it was 'fantastic' the show had finally decided to have a same-sex couple, as he had 'been championing this for five years'