Strictly Come Dancing returns

17 October 2020

'Strictly Come Dancing' has returned with a glitzy launch show.

Strictly Come Dancing's Maisie Smith

The celebrities starring on the new series of the BBC One latin and ballroom show were partnered up with their professional dancers as the programme returned amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

First to find out her fate was Caroline Quentin, who is partnered with Johannes Radebe, whilst Clara Amfo and Aljaž Škorjanec will form a bubble to perform on the show. Ranvir Singh and Giovanni Pernice, HRVY and Janette Manrara and Jason Bell and Luba Mushtuk were next to find out their fate.

Jamie Laing - who was forced to sit out of last year's show after injuring his ankle in a group dance - was partnered with Karen Hauer whilst Jacqui Smith and Anton Du Beke, Nicola Adams and Katya Jones and Maisie Smith and Gorka Marquez were next to be given their professional dancers for the series.

It was then to the last three celebrities to have their partners revealed with JJ Chalmers and Amy Dowden, Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse and Max George and Dianne Buswell revealed to be the final pairings for the show.

In order to keep to current government guidelines, the 'Strictly' professional dancers and their celebrity partners are living alone and are creating "bubbles" so they are able to dance with one another. Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are keeping to social distance rules as are the judges - Craig Revel-Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse.

In a statement, producers said: "We are using two approaches to bring our 12 Strictly couples together. The first is the creation of Bubbles. Each couple has formed a support bubble. Meaning, one half of the bubble is a single adult household living alone, while the other half may remain with their household. This means they are permitted to have close contact with one another. The bubbles are exclusive and the couples are not able to form other bubbles with anyone else whilst they are in the competition. Each couple will follow Government guidelines on social distancing with anyone who is not in their household or support bubble. They were all tested twice before forming their bubbles. The second approach is the use of a TV industry protocol called Close Contact Cohorts. This industry protocol is similar to support bubbles however it includes regular and routine testing for COVID-19. Each couple is in an exclusive Close Contact Cohort which means they cannot form a cohort with anyone else while they are in the competition."