Strictly is ‘hardest show’ to make with new rules

Strictly Come Dancing is the “hardest” show to film under current circumstances, the BBC’S head of entertainment has said.

Kate Phillips, entertainment controller at the BBC, offered an update on the flagship entertainment shows to the virtual Edinburgh TV Festival.

She said: “Strictly is probably the question we get asked more than any other show. I can say it absolutely is coming back – the pros have been isolating together for the last couple of weeks, they are now rehearsing together, the big dance numbers.

“We will announce the celebrity line-up at the end of this month.

“We are having to adapt, the set is having to be altered, we are not quite sure at this stage how much audience we will be able to have in and we have to look at Dave Arch and his band, how hair and make-up and costume will work backstage.

“It’s probably the hardest show to do in the current circumstances, a live weekly show that relies on body contact quite a lot. I think theyhave really risen to the challenge.”

Phillips confirmed that The Apprentice has been postponed until next year because it would be impossible to film some of the most popular elements of the series.