Scott Mills has denounced claims that Strictly Come Dancing is “homophobic” for pairing him with a woman during last night’s launch.

Speaking to Metro, the gay BBC Radio 1 DJ defended the show’s bosses for pairing him up with newcomer Joanne Clifton amid rumours he would be dancing with Anton Du Beke.

He said: “It is the campest glitziest show on television. If there is homophobia over Strictly Come Dancing then the show wouldn’t exist.

“It’s all in the hands of producers, although apparently it doesn’t work as well in things like ballroom.”

Addressing rumours that his dance partner would be a man, Mills added: “Anton Du Beke was teasing me for quite a while that it was going to be him and that would be the big surprise on the night and he was well up for that.”

Robin Windsor, who was the only openly gay professional dancer on the show, was forced to pull out last month over a back injury.

Strictly Come Dancing will return to screens on Friday, September 26.