has been hit by scandal after scandal in the last year with recently caught saying he wanted to "spit roast" dancer .

And now the show's Christmas special winner says competing on the BBC show was "dear to my heart" because mainstream television is "homophobic".

The Welsh drag star is also tipped to appear on next year's series after being such a hit on the dance floor.

Speaking at RuPaul's Drag Con UK 2025 in conversation with Raven, she said that competing on Strictly "was something I hold really dear to my heart because I wanted to open up that dialogue for other queens and trans icons to be able to go on mainstream, honestly sometimes quite homophobic television and do your best thing.

"I went on there and was like, I want to win, I want to do it and I won. I put the effort in and if people can't take it, they can't take it but that is what it is. What can I do? What can I say?"

Tayce, Strictly's first drag queen competitor, and professional dance partner Kai Widdrington were crowned the winners of 2024's Christmas special.

Judge Craig Revel Horwood praised their cha-cha to 100 Degrees by Kylie and Dannii Minogue, saying it was "absolutely fierce, serving realness, serving fab-u-lous".

The pair received tens across the board for their routine, beating comedian Josh Widdicombe, actor Tamzin Outhwaite, DJ and podcaster Vogue Williams, Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and former racing driver Billy Monger to lift the trophy.

Tayce, from Newport in south Wales, competed on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race UK in 2020, and despite losing out to Scotland's Lawrence Chaney, she now has a trophy of her own.

Tayce faced a backlash after appearing on the show but she hit back at haters saying: "I don't deal with it. I don't care. It doesn't affect me at all. I just feel that these are people who don't give a f***. They are not doing anything. They should not make you... Like what are they doing? Facebook girl from Slough. 63, Lisa. No! Who cares?

"You're not doing s***. If anything - keep telling me s***. Makes me stronger. Makes me grow."

In 2019 Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prima danced together in the show's first complete same-sex dance in its 15-year history.

But more than 200 people formally complained proving that homophobia is still rife in television and amongst viewers.

Last year's Strictly made headlines with another first, when blind contestant comedian Chris McCausland won the trophy.

But it has recently been hit by scandal with Wynne Evans being dropped from the Strictly tour line-up after he was caught making lewd comments about fellow dancer Janette Manrara.

The BBC is probing two more allegations that Strictly's Wynne Evans used "inappropriate" language in a workplace.

Evans said on Tuesday that he was sorry for the "pain" his "inappropriate actions" had caused.
He said he was taking "time for self-reflection".

The BBC said last night that it did not comment on individuals but had "robust processes" to handle serious concerns that are raised.

Dancer Giovanni Pernice stepped away from the show following "serious workplace misconduct" allegations against him.

Giovanni's 2023 partner Amanda Abbington accused him of "unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean" behaviour during rehearsals, claims he's always denied.