Strictly Come Dancing ‘sees third professional dancer refuse Covid vaccine’

Strictly Come Dancing has reportedly seen a third professional dancer refuse the Covid vaccination.

Sources claim the star has already been paired with a celebrity and it is well-known among the cast that they have refused the jab, sparking resentment behind the scenes.

The reports come just days after it was claimed that two professional dancers had refused the Covid vaccine, sparking fears from bosses the show could be hit by another outbreak.

The pro, who has not been named, does not have to disclose whether they’ve been vaccinated to BBC bosses, because it is a private medical manner.

A source told The Sun: ‘Producers are dreading an outbreak of Covid on the new series, which is a crucial part of the autumn schedule.

‘They are taking every possible precaution to make the set as safe as possible, particularly as the studio audience is returning.’

A Strictly spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We do not comment on speculation of somebody’s COVID vaccination status. 

‘Strictly Come Dancing production has, and will, continue to follow strict government guidelines to ensure the safety of all on the show.’

This year’s Strictly has once again seen stars and their professional dancers required to adhere to strict Covid safety measures, including being tested multiple times a week, and former bubbles to perform and train safely.

Saturday’s launch show, which was recorded earlier this month, saw this year’s celebrity contestants discover their professional partners, with the 15 couples set to perform in the first live show this weekend.  

On Saturday it was reported that two of the show’s professional dancers had refused to get Covid jabs, ahead of the launch show being broadcast.     

The identity of the dancers was not revealed and BBC bosses were said to be fearful that there could be a larger outbreak among those participating in the show.   

A source told The Sun that if a ‘proper outbreak’ led to ‘half the cast’ contracting Covid-19, it would be ‘curtains’ for the show.

They added: ‘Strictly already has to jump through hoops just to be able to broadcast. The dancers who won’t get vaccinated have been a topic of conversation among cast and crew for weeks — even before the positive test.

‘There were vocal protests from celebrities that they didn’t want to be paired with them. It’s a headache for bosses but employers cannot force workers to get jabbed.’ 

Reacting, ex-Strictly contestant Dr Ranj Singh said: ‘I think, you know vaccination is not mandatory, it’s an offer, and I think we should all be playing our part and doing whatever we can to try and keep everybody safe. Not just ourselves but those around us.

‘There may be legitimate reasons for those people to not be able to have the jab and we’ve got to understand that, but I think we’ve all got a part to play to be as safe as possible.

‘And that’s not just about vaccination, that’s about being careful around hand hygiene, trying to distance, wear a mask in enclosed spaces, and all those other things that we should be doing well.’ 

It came just three days after it emerged that one professional dancer has tested positive for Covid-19. The unidentified dancer was forced to isolate for ten days, but their celebrity partner tested negative. 

Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse told Good Morning Britain in response to the news of the positive test that ‘it is still a pandemic, we cannot ignore the fact as much as we want our lives back.’

She added: ‘We will all be there and we will all be healthy and all keep on dancing – that’s what I can say.’ 

Speaking of the two dancers’ refusal to get vaccinated, the source added to The Sun: ‘There were vocal protests from celebrities that they didn’t want to be paired with them.’ 

As part of the measures in place to lessen the risk posed by the virus, dancers are tested multiple times a week. 

Judge Motsi said on Friday: ‘There are still issues here and the BBC is doing the upmost to keep everybody safe.

‘We are being tested and we are trying to isolate as much as we can, but things can happen and we should be able to go through that, and everyone should be responsible and take care of themselves.

‘But we can’t plan these things so we just have to react, and hope that everybody stays healthy.’ 

Show bosses are reportedly still enforcing Covid-19 bubbles for its professional dancers, despite lockdown restrictions easing.

Wanting to minimise all potential risks, Strictly bosses have requested the show’s dancers all stay at a London hotel in ‘bubbles’, according to The Sun.

Such bubbles were put into practice for last year’s Strictly series amid lockdown, while the show’s professionals have been busy pre-recording group dances ahead of this year’s launch. 

As well as forming bubbles ahead of the series, the professional dancers filmed most of their group routines in advance and only a limited number of guests will be allowed in the studio audience.

Fans, along with friends and family of the celebrity contestants, will be allowed back into Elstree studios to watch the live shows, but only in small numbers.

Last year, Strictly bosses brought bubbles and close contact cohorts into play in order to ensure the safety of the contestants, dancers and crew during filming.

Each dancing couple formed an exclusive support bubble – meaning one half of the bubble was a single adult household living alone and the other could remain with their household, allowing them to have close contact with one another. 

Close contact cohorts were also introduced and work similarly to support bubbles, but included regular and routine testing for coronavirus. Each couple was put into a close contact cohort and could not form a cohort with anyone else during the competition.

Despite the measures in place, Covid still wreaked havoc with the series, as same-sex couple Katya Jones and Nicola Adams were forced to leave the competition, after Katya tested positive for the virus.

The series was won by Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse, with EastEnders star Maisie Smith, singer HRVY and Jamie Laing all finishing as runners-up.

Producers have also reportedly put a kissing ban on contestants in a bid to stop Covid causing havoc again for the new series. 

Producers are said to have told this year’s stars ‘one snog and you’re out’ after last series celebs Maisie Smith and HRVY allegedly broke social distancing rules because of a brief romance.

An insider told The Sun: ‘Although the pandemic has eased since last year’s series, the BBC aren’t taking any chances.

‘This kissing ban is likely to be part of a package of measures introduced by producers to make the show as safe as possible.