Alijaz Skorjanec and Janette Manrara will live apart for "four weeks" during 'Strictly Come Dancing' rehearsals.
Janette Manrara and Alijaz Skorjanec
The BBC One Latin and ballroom show's professional dancer and his wife, who has swapped the dancefloor to present sister show 'It Takes Two', had to spend the whole 11 weeks apart last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for them to isolate.
However, the 31-year-old Slovenian dancer and his other half won't have to be separated for as long this time.
Janette told OK! Magazine: "We always do a big rehearsal for all the pro dances and they get rehearsed and sometimes even filmed before the series begins.
"Because COVID is still an issue, in order for the show to continue moving forward with the professional numbers, the professionals and the production team have to isolate to rehearse and film all the pro dances, which means Aljaz will have to move out of our home."
She added: "Last year we had to isolate for the whole series and I didn't see Aljaz for 11 weeks. But this time it's only the four weeks of pro rehearsals."
The 37-year-old dancer and choregrapher then quipped: "I'm going on holiday so I can get my mind off missing Aljaz."
'Strictly' fans will get their "full fix" of the show this year - but no Blackpool week.
The TV contest aired in a reduced form in 2020 due to the pandemic and didn't hit screens until October, but the celebrity competition will be back with its usual early autumn date and popular themes including movie, musicals and Halloween weeks will be back after COVID-19 restrictions meant they were impossible to pull off last year because of safety measures around hair and make-up.
And while only 12 couples competed last year, there will be a full quota of 15 for the new series, and producers hope it will all take place in front of a full live audience.
Executive producer Sarah James said: “We’re so thrilled that 'Strictly' will be returning for a full-length series this year, and know how much viewers are looking forward to getting their full 'Strictly' fix and seeing the return of much-loved specials.”
However, the action will all take place in the studio this year.
Sarah confirmed: "We are all so sad that we won’t be able to get to Blackpool this year but can’t wait to be back dancing at the one and only Blackpool Tower Ballroom in the future.”
Insiders explained an early decision had to be made on the special episode, which traditionally comes towards the end of the series, but decided not to risk transporting the cast and crew to Blackpool.
A source said: “Production had to make an early call on it and sadly couldn’t make it work due to the advanced planning and logistics required plus the uncertainty over the ever-changing Covid protocols.”
Comic Bill Bailey won the Glitterball Trophy last year with Oti Mabuse.