TV SHOW Strictly Come Dancing has sparked such demand from women for dance classes that men are being paid to partner them.

Female Strictly fans dreaming of dancing with Anton Du Beke and Brendan Cole are flocking to ballroom and Latin workshops but a shortage of men has forced dance companies to advertise for male partners at up to £10 an hour.

Jenni Kravitz, who runs Simply Dancing Partners in central London, said: "When women turn up at classes, either there are no men or they are the kind of social misfits you would hesitate to stand next to. I therefore decided to hire male dancers in the same way that you would pay for a golf pro or gym personal trainer."

Her company has 60 men on its books, and pays them £10 an hour. Only men who can perform a full range of dances are hired.

Another company, morethan-adance.com, offers up to 40 hours of free training to men and then pays them £7.50 an hour to partner women at its north London classes.

Call centre worker Olly Okwuosa, 29, of Roehampton, said: "It only took me a month to learn enough to be put on the payroll. I'm single and this is a brilliant way to meet new people and make new friends."

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