Westlife singer Mark Feehily has said that he reached out to BBC bosses about being on Strictly Come Dancing but on the terms that he would have a male dance partner.

Feehily, who recently performed with Westlife on Strictly, told the Daily Mirror about his interest in performing on the show.

He said that he is interested in reality TV and would like to follow in the footsteps of his bandmates who have appeared on shows like Dancing On Ice and I’m a Celebrity.

Fellow Westlife star Nicky Byrne co-hosts the Irish version of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars.

“We were talking about Kian in the jungle. I just couldn’t do it. I know I couldn’t. I’m particularly squeamish,” he told the Daily Mirror.

“Strictly is the only one with an ability attached to it. There is ability with the jungle with the challenges and working stuff out but not in the same way.

“Big Brother you are just sitting around, and I don’t think I would like that. Strictly would be fun to do as I love a freestyle dance.”

Feehily, who recently became a Dad, added that he would have to have a same-sex dance partner on the show.

“It would have to be with a guy as it would feel strange for me to go with a girl. Well, it wouldn’t feel strange, but why wouldn’t I do it with a guy?” he said.

Mark Feehily has added his two cents to the Strictly debate which has been ensuing for months about same-sex pairings on the show.

In a recent episode, Strictly Come Dancing made the landmark decision to feature a same-sex dance routine between professional dancers Johannes Radebe and Graziano Di Prima.

Overall, the performance received hugely positive responses, with viewers on social media sharing how it had moved them to tears and praising the show’s producers for its inclusion.

It was revealed that the BBC received a number of complaints from viewers who felt it was “offensive to feature two men dancing as a pair”.

In response to the complaints, the BBC released the statement, “Strictly Come Dancing is an inclusive show and is proud to have been able to facilitate the dance between Johannes and Graziano during the Professionals’ dance. They are dancers first and foremost, and their sex had no bearing on their routine.”

Before the complaints came to light, one of the pair, Johannes, an openly gay man, spoke about the routine in an interview with Hello saying, “I’ve never felt so liberated. For the first time in my life, I feel accepted for who I am. That says so much about the people of this country.

“To be able to dance with a friend I respect and adore is joyous. There’s bromance galore between us, but there were no male and female roles, just free movement. It was beautiful, classy and elegant.”