Shirley Ballas is confident 'Strictly Come Dancing' will still broadcast this year.

Shirley Ballas

Shirley Ballas

The show's head judge insisted producers will do "anything and everything" to ensure the Latin and ballroom competition still takes place, even if it will be "tough" because of the social distancing measures in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Head judge Shirley Ballas and spin-off show insisted the BBC1 stalwart will be on screens across the nation.

She said: "I spoke to some people and they will do anything and everything to make sure that show goes on. We are in tough times with the Coronavirus but where there is a will, there is away. I feel like they will come through."

And Zoe Ball, who hosts spin-off show 'It Takes Two', is equally confident the programme will happen, even if the format needs some changes.

She is quoted by The Sun Online as saying: "Whatever happens with the situation I know that they are going to put that show on somehow. It might not have a studio audience, it might be slightly different."

Earlier this week, BBC bosses admitted the show could take place without a studio audience.

The network's director of content Charlotte Moore said she is "looking very carefully" at the situation.

She added: "The other thing I would say is [people think] if it is shiny floor, it needs an audience, and I don't think that's necessarily true.

"When you look at something like ['RuPaul's Drag Race'], which is a big shiny floor talent competition with all sorts of catwalks, singing, dancing, impressions - it never has an audience.

"The audience is the four judges and I don't think it suffers from that at all. I think it is a brilliant show!"

Charlotte insisted bringing 'Strictly' back later this year in some form was "one of our big priorities", but admitted "inevitably things are going to change".


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