Strictly's Carlos Gu speaks about being gay in China for first time
Strictly's Carlos Gu is going on tour with Amy Dowden
What did you miss?
Strictly's Carlos Gu has spoken out about his sexuality for the first time while being interviewed on Lorraine on Friday, saying: "Being a gay in China, it's really hard to talk about it."
The professional dancer, 31, burst onto our screens on BBC show Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 when he taught Molly Rainford to dance. Away from the Strictly dancefloor, Gu has teamed up with Amy Dowden for their 2025 tour Reborn and they appeared on Lorraine to talk about it.
Dowden encouraged Gu to share the story of Reborn because it started out as his story. Gu said the idea for their tour came about because he has been discovering his "true self" in the UK. In moving moments, the professional dancer spoke about his sexuality for the first time and coming out to his mum.
What, how and why?
Gu said: "Myself, I moved to this country. I had a different life. I am finding my true self in this country. Being a gay in China, it's really hard to talk about it. You can't tell a word in telly, public, no word." In 1997, homosexuality was decriminalised in China. Since 2001, homosexuality is no longer classed as a mental disorder by the Chinese Society of Psychiatry. But China does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil unions.
Gu explained how he felt at home in the UK. He said: "I feel like I have so much opportunity. I find so much nuance. Growing and nourishing myself to become... It feels like home."
His friend and partner Dowden jumped in to share some inspiring words. She said: "You can be true to yourself here can't you."
Gu added: "I come to this idea, I says to Amy. The second I talk to her, I feel like she is the perfect Reborn representative because she's been through so much with her Crohn's disease, her cancer, and she battled and she won. She came back... You [Amy] are reborn to me. I send this message, I send the idea."
Ranvir Singh asked Gu: "Can I just ask you, because you mentioned China there, your family are still over there, do you have any siblings?"
"No only child," Gu said. To which Singh remarked "of course" referring to the only-child rule in China. The country had a one-child policy for 35 years. In 2016, China stopped its one-child policy and now couples are allowed to have two children.
Singh asked: "What is like for your parents then to know that you are over here finding your true self but you are also thousands of miles away from them?"
Gu told the TV host that he had "came out" to his mum, who has been so supportive, and he praised her for being "so open".
He added: "I think, because I came out to my mum. She's a single mum who raised me, it's hard for her. But I'm so lucky to have her, she's so open. The time when I told her I want to move to UK and I want to get this job on Strictly, she actually supported me 100% because she knew I would be happier there."
Carlos Gu and Amy Dowden's Reborn tour
Gu and Dowden are taking their inspirational dance show to stages across the UK with their tour Reborn from March 2025. It's an exciting time for the duo, with Dowden returning to Strictly Come Dancing following her cancer diagnosis and Gu finding his true self in the UK.
The tour promises to be an emotional and uplifting journey. They will perform all over the UK, starting in Birmingham and they will finish the tour in April in Buxton.
