Strictly Come Dancing bosses 'consider ditching studio audience'

Strictly Come Dancing bosses 'consider ditching studio audience'
Strictly Come Dancing bosses 'consider ditching studio audience'

Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly considering 'scrapping the show's live audience and re-introducing quarantine bubbles for celebrities and their professional dancers'.

A crisis meeting is said to have been held last night after Tom Fletcher, 36, and his partner Amy Dowden, 31, tested positive for Covid despite having been double-jabbed.

A source has revealed 'there is nothing they aren't willing to consider' in order to keep the show rolling full steam ahead.

Decisions: Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly considering 'scrapping the show's live audience and re-introducing quarantine bubbles'

Decisions: Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly considering 'scrapping the show's live audience and re-introducing quarantine bubbles'

They told The Sun: 'These would be radical steps to take to increase safety on the set, but given the difficulties producers have had over the past two weeks, there's nothing they aren't willing to consider.

'But if they did have to go down this route, it would be a logistical nightmare and might leave some of the stars with a dilemma as many of them are juggling their dance training with their day jobs.'

Strictly's live shows currently take place before a small audience with cast and crew adhering to social distancing measures.    

MailOnline has reached out to BBC representatives for comment. 

It follows the news that Strictly bosses admitted they 'aren't bulletproof' to COVID-19 in the wake of Tom and Amy's positive tests.

Crisis: A crisis meeting is said to have been held last night after Tom Fletcher, 36, and his partner Amy Dowden, 31, tested positive for Covid, despite having been double-jabbed

Crisis: A crisis meeting is said to have been held last night after Tom Fletcher, 36, and his partner Amy Dowden, 31, tested positive for Covid, despite having been double-jabbed

It's understood that show producers were quietly 'dismayed' after hearing of their shock diagnosis on Sunday, with the pair now ruled out of Saturday's show while they recover from the contagious respiratory bug. 

Amy, who received her COVID-19 vaccination prior to contracting the illness, had previously accompanied Tom and his McFly bandmates during their current UK tour. 

But the BBC tell MailOnline there are no plans to increase testing because they are 'satisfied' the measures they currently have in place are as good as they can be. 

Pandemic: Strictly Come Dancing bosses have said they 'aren't bulletproof' to Covid in the wake of Tom and Amy's positive tests, according to a TV source

Pandemic: Strictly Come Dancing bosses have said they 'aren't bulletproof' to Covid in the wake of Tom and Amy's positive tests, according to a TV source

'Tom and Amy's positive test was the worst possible news,' an insider told MailOnline. 

'After days of negative headlines about dancers not getting the jab, producers had hoped the start of the show would see them turn a corner and put this story to bed. 

'So for Amy and Tom to go down with COVID was absolutely crushing news and left everyone dismayed.

'But BBC bosses are refusing to panic. They believe the measures in place are as good as they can be. They've always been clear that nothing is going to be bulletproof and producers can only follow Government guidelines. 

'They are now just hoping nobody else comes down with the virus because that would really put the show in danger of being cancelled.'

Spanner in the works: MailOnline understands producers were 'dismayed' at the news of the pair's diagnosis yesterday which rules them out of Saturday's show

Spanner in the works: MailOnline understands producers were 'dismayed' at the news of the pair's diagnosis yesterday which rules them out of Saturday's show 

MailOnline also understands Strictly bosses believe Tom and Amy came into contact with COVID outside of the show's tightly enforced bubble.

'Amy has been on tour with McFly and Tom's schedule in the past month has been manic,' our source added.

'He's been going here, there and everywhere so could have come into contact with COVID in various places. 

'Amy has also been jabbed and is currently showing no symptoms. So producers are hoping this won't be too serious and that they could both be back without any major issues. 

'Asking Tom and Amy to leave wasn't on the

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