Rob Rinder wants to return to 'Strictly Come Dancing' and dance with a male partner.

Rob Rinder

Rob Rinder

The 43-year-old TV star competed on the BBC ballroom show back in 2016 and came fifth with his professional Oksana Platero.

Rinder admits he would be very keen to be part of a same-sex coupling and has told bosses if they want him for the Christmas special then he's in, and he already has an idea of who he could Foxtrot with.

In an interview with the Metro newspaper, he said: "I've always said if I was invited to do the Christmas special I'd do it with Anton du Beke. But now he's not available I could see myself doing a salsa with Giovanni Pernice or Graziano Di Prima. If they're offering, I'm in!"

Rinder - who is beloved by viewers for his cutting remarks on reality courtroom series 'Judge Rinder' - has been spreading his wings on the small screen and after an appearance on ITV breakfast news show 'Good Morning Britain' many people clamoured for him to replace the departed Piers Morgan permanently alongside his friend Susanna Reid.

However, the television personality has serious reservations due to the start time and also the social media abuse the 'GMB' hosts are subjected to.

He said: "I can't imagine what it must do to your emotional chemistry and relationship with the world to get up every day at 4am to then be shouted at by the British public.

"I think she {Susanna) does her thing and I do mine, and she's really great at it. She doesn't always get the credit she deserves. It's an incredibly tough gig."

Rinder and Reid, 50, appeared together on 'Celebrity Gogglebox' and he admits it was a blast doing the Channel 4 programme with his close pal, even though the news anchor is not a huge fan of his flatulent dog Rocco.

He shared: "That was a laugh. Obviously she had mild antipathy to my dog but he got his own back - he's extremely flatulent. She and Rocco secretly love each other."