Strictly star Bethany Antonia defends the BBC for editing out her 'Protect the Dolls' T-shirt slogan despite fan fury

Bethany Antonia, 28, admitted she wore the top without realising it was tied to a charity and to what some see as a brand. The House of the Dragon actress said the BBC 'had to do what they had to do' to keep things fair for everybody. The slogan was blurred out of rehearsal footage shown on the October 10 live show. She insists she still stands 'with my trans family in every way'.

The BBC said it always cuts overt branding and slogans under its editorial guidelines.

Furious viewers on X branded the blurring 'outrageous' and accused the BBC of transphobia.

Antonia predicts a trans Strictly contestant is 'only a matter of years' away.