The five questions everyone’s asking about Strictly’s return
It’s back – but how on earth will the show work with distancing in place? Michael Hogan reports
One of each pair will volunteer to live alone in a flat away from their loved ones
Sew sequins on to your face masks, because Strictly Come Dancing is back to bring some me much-needed sparkle into our lives. ives. A dancefloor dozen including actress ctress Caroline Quentin, comedian Bill l Bailey, former home secretary Jacqui acqui Smith and Olympic boxing champion mpion Nicola Adams will join hosts Claudia udia Winkleman and Tess Daly, right, , to help launch the 18th series on BBC BC One tomorrow night. The show, however, is set to be the strangest st in its history as producers introduce ce a raft of changes to keep cast, crew w and audience members safe from coronavirus. Here are all your burning questions answered…
How will the Covid-secure e Strictly work?
It’s Strictly, Tess, but not as we know it. All contestants and professional nal dancers have been regularly tested ted for coronavirus and will continue ue to be tested twice a week for as long as they remain in the competition.
Once the celebrities have been n paired with their pro partners on n tomorrow night’s show (introductions that will be filmed d in individual locations around the country rather than in the Strictly ly studio), they then form a “support rt bubble” with that dancer. This will involve one of the pair volunteering ring to live alone in a flat away from their heir loved ones for the duration of the e contest. If anyone in the bubble falls sick and tests positive for Covid-19 19 then the couple will have to hang g up their dancing shoes and leave the e show. When the competition proper oper starts next week, contestants will ll dance in the Strictly studio but in n front of a reduced, sociallydistanced audience, with fans in bubbles of four and wearing face masks. Three of the show’s judges – Motsi Mabuse, Craig Revel Horwood and Shirley Ballas – will sit at separate, socially distanced desks. Fourth judge Bruno Tonioli, who lives in Los Angeles and is not able to commute to the UK each week as he has done in previous years, will appear remotely via videolink, although the plan is for the 64-year-old to return in person for the semi final and grand final.
How ggood good (or bad) will Jacqui Smith be?
Jacqui Smith, 57, is this year’s prancing politician. The jury is still out on whether she’ll be an Ann Widdecombe (can (can’t t dance b but goes far due to comedy value), valu an Ed Balls (can dance a bit, does we well with novelty routines) or an Edwina Currie (voted off in the first week). S She fears being first out, admitting: “I “I’d be gutted. But I’ve lost votes before. As a politician, you know what it’s like to be on the wrong end of democracy.”
How will Strictly’s first same-sex pair work?
Nicola Adams A will be the first ever contestant co to have a same-sex same-s dance partner – although althoug it hasn’t yet been revea revealed who that will be. Will ther there be chemistry? How will the they be choreographed? A Rocky Ro routine in Movie Week feels inevitable.
Who will win the glitterball gli trophy?
Smith Smith, tips. the The Eastenders E c case, youngsters, 19, won are the the actress bookies’ Strictly as is often Maisie hot and Childre Children has dance In Need training. Special She’s last year been ins installed as favourite, followed by 21-year-old Youtube star HRV HRVY. Singer Max George, retired American Am footballer Jason Bell and R Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo could also be in contention.
Will the dancing be of a lower standard?
The field is smaller and the series shorter th than we’re used to. There are 12 hop hopefuls instead of 15, while the conte contest runs for nine weeks rather th than 13. This does mean less time for celebrities to improve and go o on a “journey”. However, the fact that couples will be isolating together with fewer distractions and other commitments should mean they train even harder. Test negative, stay positive an and let’s dance.