BBC bosses are reportedly battling to save Strictly Come Dancing after celebrities were furious to learn three professional dancers have refused the Covid vaccine.
Sources claim one star has told pals: 'We should have been protected,' after learning their professional partner hasn't received the jab.
It comes after it emerged that three Strictly dancers - including one who has been paired with a celebrity - have refused to have the Covid jab, sparking concerns of an outbreak behind the scenes.
The refusal set tongues wagging as PM Boris Johnson was asked about the news in a US TV interview, to which he said: 'Everyone should take their jabs and I'm saying that not in a bullying way but just because I think it's a great thing to do.'
Drama: BBC bosses are reportedly battling to save Strictly Come Dancing after celebrities were furious to learn three professional dancers have refused the Covid vaccine
A source told The Sun the celebrity was previously unaware their professional partner hadn't been jabbed, and has been stunned by BBC bosses' failure to secure their safety despite stringent Covid measures.
They said: 'They just couldn't believe that their partner would not have had a jab.
'They thought they'd be protected so to discover their partner hasn't even had a single jab is very worrying.
'The couple have already spent tens of hours practising together. Clearly, there is a lot of anger and a lot of questions to be asked.'
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Strictly Come Dancing for comment.
Drama: Sources claim one furious star has told pals: 'We should have been protected,' after learning their professional partner hasn't received the jab
Following reports that a third professional dancer had refused the vaccine, former Strictly star James Jordan led calls for them to be dropped from the show.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain alongside ex-pro Kristina Rihanoff, James said: 'I would normally protect the professional dancers until the cows come home but on this particular occasion I can't unfortunately.
'I definitely believe they don't deserve their right on the show and the celebrities have every right to refuse to dance with them.
'I just think it's a really, really selfish thing to do. And also, what you have to remember, in previous years on Strictly, your immune system gets low, lots of people get sick anyway. This is way before coronavirus.
Furious: Following reports that a third professional dancer had refused the vaccine, former Strictly star James Jordan led calls for them to be dropped from the show
'So if you are sweating and all over someone, it is very close contact on Strictly as we all know, so you are much more at risk of spreading something like that.'
'If it does spread and the whole show comes down or god forbid someone dies because let's not forget 150,000 people have already died from this horrible virus.
'If someone on this show get this virus and their immune system is really low and they die, it could have been prevented.'
Even Prime Minister Boris Johnson waded into the vaccine debate, telling GB News: 'Everyone should take their jabs and I’m saying that not in a hectoring or bullying way, but just because I think it’s a great thing to do.'
Scary: It comes following reports that it had become well-known among the cast that a third professional dancer had refuse the Covid vaccine (Giovanni Pernice and Oti Mabuse pictured)
It comes following reports that it had become well-known among the Strictly cast that a third professional dancer had refuse the Covid vaccination, sparking resentment behind the scenes.
The pro, who was not named, does not have to disclose whether they've been vaccinated to BBC bosses, because it is a private medical matter.
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.'
Scare: The pro does not have to disclose whether they've been vaccinated to BBC bosses, because it is a private medical matter (Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez pictured)
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 forming 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.
Worries: On Saturday it was reported that two of the show's professional dancers had refused to get Covid jabs (Giovanni is pictured getting a Covid test)
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.'
Worries: 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
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
