Entertainment
Strictly Come Dancing won’t be delayed after Nadiya Bychkova ‘tests positive for Covid’
Strictly 2021 cast is shaping up (Picture: Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Strictly Come Dancing won’t be delayed after reports emerged that professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova had tested positive for coronavirus days into production.
It was recently reported that Nadiya, 31, had caught Covid-19 shortly after the new series of BBC’s Strictly had commenced production, as stars including Tilly Ramsay, Greg Wise and Tom Fletcher are announced for the 2021 line-up.
A source told The Sun that ‘BBC bosses are panicking’, with several cast and crew members having to self-isolate for 10 days after coming into contact with the performer.
While some may have been concerned over how the positive test may impact the start of this year’s show, the dancing competition is said to still be on track to launch on time as planned in autumn.
Metro.co.uk understands that Strictly is not being delayed, as while some members of the cast and crew reportedly had to isolate, not everyone came into contact with Nadiya.
Furthermore, the show has supposedly not yet started filming, with filming due to begin within the next 10 days.
Nadiya has been on Strictly since 2017 (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Nadiya joined Strictly four years ago, partnering up with EastEnders star Davood Ghadami in her first series.
She has since been partnered up with Blue singer Lee Ryan and former footballer David James, before appearing as a supporting dancer in the 2020 series.
Several celebrities have been confirmed for the 2021 line-up over the past few days, including Peep Show star Robert Webb, BBC Breakfast’s Dan Walker and TV presenter AJ Odudu.
On Wednesday, Tilly, Gordon Ramsay’s daughter, was announced as one of the stars of the cast, telling Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning that she was ‘slightly terrified’ to be taking part.
‘I’ve tried dancing before when I was much younger,’ she said. ‘Mum put us all in ballet. We weren’t very good so we were moved into football camp. It’s definitely not my strength.’
More: Strictly Come Dancing
The Crown star Greg said that he will be competing in memory of his late sister, Clare, who was a ‘huge disco queen’.
‘She left our world almost exactly five years ago in a glitter ball coffin,’ the actor said. ‘This is for her. My gorgeous diva sis, who would have been insane with excitement that her little bro was doing this.’
Strictly Come Dancing will air later this year on BBC One.
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