Dannii Minogue breaks down as she reveals she 'identifies as queer'

Dannii Minogue fought back tears of pride as she launched new gay dating show I Kissed a Girl and claimed that she “identifies as queer”.

The star, who last year fronted the award-winning BBC3 series I Kissed a Boy, said it was “surreal” that there hadn’t been a dating series for lesbian and bisexual women in the UK until 2024. “This is so important,” she said. “There hasn't been a show for the girls in the reality gay dating world. It's like we need this to happen. I'm hoping that there are parties up and down the country.”

In the series opener viewers will see that the 10 single girls have been matched into pairs by the show’s researchers and kick off with a lingering kiss next to the pool - before they have even spoken a word. They then set about discovering if they have chemistry or if they need to keep looking for romance among the other contestants. Along the way five extra women will be brought in to the beautiful Italian Masseria, to spice up the action.

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At a launch for the series presenter Dannii, 52, was commended for getting to grips with the lingo used to describe different types of gay women, such as “femme”, “stem” and “masc”. She declared: “I identify as queer in a weird way.”

Dannii Minogue attends the "I Kissed A Girl" photocall
(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

One of the group, Amy from Surrey, says in the first episode that Dannii is “just my type” and most of the group make it clear they also fancy her. Asked if she is attracted to the women in return, the Aussie star - who has dated musician Adrian Newman for the past decade - laughed: “You girls are hot. You know it. I love it. I'm here for it. Is that an answer?”

She said she would love the ground-breaking series to win more awards. “I want this to go well, obviously. Everybody's put everything on the line. I hope there are more series of this show, and more girls get the opportunity to have this experience.”

Dannii says she identifies as queer
(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Choking up, she added: “You girls are so brave and amazing and have brought so much to it. I could never do what you have done. I will always be in awe of what has happened and what we've created. I feel so proud. You're stepping forward, and you're the first crew of girls representing in this space, and it is big.”

The contestants, aged between 22 and 28, come from all over the UK and include a footballer, a fire-eater, a chef who is also a drummer and a publishing executive who has never been in a relationship with another girl.

I Kissed a Girl, Sunday, BBC3, 9pm
(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Former X Factor judge Dannii is hoping that the 10-episode run is watched by a broad audience - including those who are heterosexual. “There's a curiosity, right? Whether you are a lesbian or not. Who's going to be in the casting? Who's going to be paired with who? What are they like? Will they represent me? Do I see myself? A million questions and guess what? The straights have the same million questions.

“The best thing that can happen to this show is that everyone watches it, and everyone has questions. Everyone learns something. Everyone moves forward.”

Dannii admitted that while she was the glamorous host of the dating show, she didn’t get to play Cupid very much. “I don't get to do a lot. I think I just drop bombs - and then swan off and try not to trip over my dress.”

I Kissed a Girl, Sunday, BBC3, 9pm.

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