Strictly at the palace is in a bit of a twirl
PRINCE Charles and Camilla are Strictly Come Dancing super- fans — but plans to host an episode in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace appear to have collapsed.
Sources say that, barring a miracle, it’s just not going to be possible this year. Instead, the royal couple are pencilled in to attend the filming of one of the shows at Elstree in person, or via video link.
I am told: ‘There has been a lot of back and forth about different ideas and different possibilities... but the likelihood is that it’s probably not possible to pull off an episode in the Palace in the time frame.
‘If we can’t do it this year, the hope is that we will do it next year.’
Back in June, rumours abounded that a semi or quarter-final might be filmed in the Buckingham Palace ballroom. A source said: ‘Charles and Camilla are very much driving this; and the BBC couldn’t quite believe what was being offered. Strictly at Buckingham Palace is just TV dreamland! It should be a wonderful spectacle.’
The source added: ‘The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are, like millions of others, huge fans of Strictly Come Dancing — and so is the Queen — so there is a real desire and energy to make this happen.’
This week, the Beeb has been announcing the latest crop of contestants; among them footballer Tony Adams, singer Matt Goss, TV presenter Helen Skelton, Paralympian Ellie Simmonds and actress Kym Marsh. The professional dancers have started rehearsals already; and the launch show will be filmed in the first week of September and go out on September 17.
The series — the 20th — will conclude on Saturday December 17 after a 13-week run.
B ACK in 2017, a segment of the Strictly Christmas Special was filmed at the Palace, with Camilla hosting competitors and judges for a tea dance with members of the local community. She even took a twirl with Brendan Cole.
This time, judge Anton du Beke is determined to get cheek to cheek with Camilla — and has said that he’s heard ‘through the grapevine’ that he is her favourite dancer.