Strictly Come Dancing TV: HRVY ‘tests positive for COVID-19’

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The Strictly Come Dancing cast and production crew will be tested for Covid-19 after celebrity contestant HRVY revealed he had caught the virus.

The 21-year-old singer and YouTube star tested positive just days after mixing with his co-stars on the BBC show and must remain in isolation until next Thursday.

That date is just four days before the celebrities are partnered up with professional dancers, with the development representing a major blow for programme bosses.

HRVY is still set to take part in the launch show, depending on a negative test result, and came into contact with a handful of crew who all then isolated and got tested.

However a source said his positive test was ‘the worst-case scenario for Strictly, as they’ve gone to extreme lengths to make the show safe up to this point’.

A spokesman for the show insisted all celebrities on the show are ‘tested regularly’ and claimed that the positive test has had ‘minimal impact on production’. 

The launch show will air on BBC One in just over two weeks’ time on October 17 while the first live show of a pared-down nine week run will be broadcast on October 24. 

If HRVY – real name Harvey Cantwell – is not well when he finishes his isolation period next week, he will be axed from the competition.

A smiling HRVY confirmed in a social media video that he was asymptomatic, but admitted he was ‘bored’ because he has to stay in his bedroom for the next 14 days.

He said: ‘Hi guys, so I wasn’t going to say anything cause I didn’t want to worry anybody, or be dramatic, but I’ve got coronavirus, I’ve tested positive, all is fine.’

‘I’m isolating. I have no symptoms luckily, so I’m just chilling, I’m bored. I’ve been making Tik Toks if you haven’t seen already but it just proves that us youngsters, we can get it and not even realise so for now stay safe.

‘I’m fine, I’m chilling but I’m going to be in this bedroom for the next ten days or two weeks. I think it’s two weeks. I’m not sure but I’m going to be here for a while so I guess I’ll see you guys on the other side.’

The YouTuber tested positive on Monday and received his results on Tuesday, hence his confusion as to the quarantine period. Strictly stars are tested twice weekly. 

A spokesman for Strictly told MailOnline today: ‘We can confirm that a member of the Strictly team has tested positive for coronavirus and they are now self-isolating at home following the latest government guidelines.

‘We have rigorous protocols in place to manage Covid-19 as the safety of all those involved in the production is paramount.

‘We briefed that we are still in pre-production and all celebs are tested regularly. We said we would not reveal the name of individual for private health reasons but they are feeling well.

‘We also briefed that the celeb will be taking part in the launch show (pending a negative test result) and that they only came into contact with a handful of production crew, who were then isolated and tested, therefore minimal impact on production.’ 

A source told The Sun: ‘This is the last thing Strictly wanted. They’ve been jumping through hoops since day one to make sure everything is done safely and with as minimal risk to the cast and crew as possible.

‘But with just 10 days until the celebrities are introduced to their partners, this is the worst-case scenario. 

‘Bosses have scrapped the replacements this year so if someone falls sick, that’s it, they’re out. And with a crunched-down run, there is no room for error.’

HRVY was at the BBC this week with fellow contestants Jason Bell, Clara Amfo and Maisie Smith, to publicise the upcoming series. 

They kept to social distancing rules and the other three have been tested and are negative. 

This follows the news that stars would potentially be undergoing daily checks for coronavirus after a former crew member tested positive days before the new series.

The hit BBC One dance show was said to be in a crisis following the news with ‘everyone told to leave’ and the set given a ‘deep clean’.

And now it has been claimed that stars could undergo daily checks in a bid to keep everyone ‘virus free’ with ‘nothing left to chance’. 

The source added that the ‘nightmare scenario’ is a case going ‘undetected’ and ‘spreading’ throughout both cast and crew.

The Sun has also claimed that bosses have a list of ‘stand-by’ celebrities for the show in case a star falls ill with relatives likely banned from rehearsals and no live studio audience allowed.   

The newspaper claimed that a lighting expert spent a week working on the dance contest’s set.

Following his positive test result, at least five staff who were in close contact with him were sent home and told to self-isolate and await tests of their own, according to the report.

Additionally, a deep clean of the set using powerful electrostatic sprayers, was apparently ordered. 

The report also claimed that a third test on the worker is anxiously being waited for, after a second medical check on his Covid-19 status came back as ‘inconclusive.’  

The publication’s source also reported that panic spread quickly among the professional dancers who were due to start filming in the studios tomorrow. 

A source told also told the site that the crew member would have been in close contact with ‘dozens of others’ on the set of Strictly.

The insider said: ‘They were hours away from starting filming for the pre-­recorded professional group dances when they got a call to say that one of the crew members had tested positive when turning up for another job.

‘Everything juddered to a halt while worried bosses worked out what to do. This is the worst-case scenario for Strictly, as they’ve gone to extreme lengths to make the show safe up to this point.

‘Starting a show then stopping mid-production is the most expensive thing that could happen, so they’re praying it’s not more serious than just one person potentially having it.’ 

The source also insisted that filming in the studio needs to begin this week if the show is going to be able to film the group dances ahead of the series’ scheduled start date, admitting that it’s already ‘a race against time.’.  

A source told MailOnline: ‘The crew member is no longer on the production and has had a negative NHS test result.

‘Procedures were followed and stringent protocols have been put in place just in case, but recording isn’t due to happen until later this week so there is minimal impact.’ 

MailOnline has contacted Strictly Come Dancing for comment.  

The report comes days after the final line-up of celebrities taking part in the upcoming series was confirmed.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, 57, and YouTube star HRVY were confirmed as the final contestants this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.  

They joined Jason Bell, Ranvir Singh, Clara Amfo, Caroline Quentin, Jamie Laing, Bill Bailey, JJ Chalmers, Max George, Maisie Smith and Nicola Adams on the line-up.