Curtis Pritchard suggests Strictly 'replace' professionals who refuse to get ...

Curtis Pritchard has suggested that Strictly Come Dancing bosses 'remove' any professional dancers unwilling to be vaccinated against Covid.

Appearing on Thursday's Good Morning Britain alongside his brother AJ – who is a former Strictly pro – Curtis, 25, offered up his thoughts on set safety, telling hosts Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard: 'If they're thinking of pulling the show, I don't think that should happen. Maybe remove the pros who aren't getting the jab.'

Curtis' comments follow reports that unvaccinated pros are so opposed to receiving the jab that they are willing to quit the show.

The Love Island star was quick to clarify any removal of professional dancers should only be a temporary measure.

He continued: 'Not get rid of them, not fire them, not at all. There's always reserve pros on the show, so bring in the ones who have had the jab for this year and put the other ones on the reserve list.'

Curtis added: 'They're still part of the programme and the show can go on and move forward.'

Further gushing about Strictly, Curtis went on: 'It's a fantastic show. I hope the show can go on, I really, really do.' 

Sharing his own stance on the matter, AJ, 26, said those in the entertainment industry should get the vaccine to help it get 'back up and running to full capacity' amid the pandemic. 

When asked if he is surprised that some of the dancers may not have been jabbed, AJ said: 'All I can say is our actions speak louder than words. We've gone and helped at vaccination centres and we're both double jabbed.

'We feel like for the entertainment industry, to get that back up and running to full capacity the jab is helping. So that says it for us, and that's where we stand.' 

Curtis added: 'We believe it helps, and it's safety first.'

Later on Thursday, Strictly pro Gorka Marquez was also quizzed about the situation when he was interviewed by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning.

Appearing alongside his 2021 celebrity partner Katie McGlynn, doting dad Gorka said: 'I can't say much. I can say the show is taking a big responsibility to keep everyone safe.'

Of his co-stars getting vaccinated, Gorka added: 'Everyone is free to do what they want.'        

It follows reports that the show's unvaccinated pros are so opposed to receiving the Covid jab, they are willing to quit the show.

Sources claim that despite others pleading for them to reconsider, the dancers, who have not been named, are steadfast in their decision not to have the jab. 

Strictly's 2021 cast were said to be furious to learn three of the professional dancers have refused the coronavirus vaccine with even Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying that 'everyone should get their jabs.'

A source told The Sun that BBC bosses did not make it a mandatory requirement for this year's Strictly stars to be vaccinated, despite similar policies being in place on other channels.  

It's thought that while none of the dancers are being forced to get the jab, their decision has sparked 'upset' behind the scenes.

The insider said: 'The three dancers have made their positions crystal clear — they'd rather quit than have the jab. There is mounting pressure upon them to be vaccinated but they are refusing to budge. 

'Obviously no one could have foreseen the upset it has caused.

'No one can make the dancers have the jab but some people have asked them to reconsider for the sake of the show. At Strictly they treat each other as a big family. They are normally a unified team and when a few of the team aren't singing off the same hymn sheet it causes issues.'

It's thought that the revelation three of the dancers are unvaccinated has sparked concern among the show's crew, especially those who are required to work in close contact with the couples.

A Strictly spokesperson told MailOnline: 'This is simply untrue'.  

Following reports that one celebrity was furious to learn their professional partner hadn't been jabbed, former Strictly stars have led calls for the unvaccinated dancers to be dropped from the show.

Even PM Boris has waded in as he said on Wednesday: '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.' 

James Jordan, who was a professional on Strictly from 2006 to 2013, slammed the 'selfish' dancers who are putting the 'entire show at risk' and called on BBC bosses to publicly name them. 

Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'If someone on this show gets this virus and their immune system is really low and they die, it could have been prevented.

'The BBC is publicly funded by taxpayers. There's over 44million people that are double vaccinated in this country so the BBC has a moral obligation to the country to say to these dancers, ''I'm really sorry, unless you're going to be double vaccinated you can't have your position on Strictly''.

'I don't believe they should be dancing and putting the whole cast of Strictly in jeopardy.'

James added that BBC bosses should have asked this year's dancers whether they'd been vaccinated against Covid, and if not they should not be allowed to take part on the show.

It comes following reports that BBC bosses were battling to save Strictly and a furious star told pals: 'We should have been protected,' after learning their professional partner hasn't received the jab.  

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.' 

It was reported that the revelation a third professional dancer had refused the Covid, had become well-knowI among the Strictly cast, 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.'

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

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