This year's 'Strictly Come Dancing' contestants can return to the show if they test positive for COVID-19 and complete their isolation period.
Strictly Come Dancing line-up
Executive producer Sarah James has revealed the coronavirus protocols for the 2021 series and due to the UK government's quarantine rules any celebrity who contracts the respiratory illness does not necessarily have to leave the ballroom competition like Nicola Adams and Katya Jones, who were forced to quit during last year’s run due to Katya receiving a positive result.
The UK government requires anyone who tests positive for COVID to self-isolate for 10 days from the day your symptoms started or the day you received a positive test result if you were showing no symptoms.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz and other assembled media, Sarah said: "If a celebrity does receive a positive test, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are out of the competition.
"It might mean they could miss a week and still get enough training in to return."
Sarah also confirmed what protocols are in place to protect the professional dancers, crew and contestants from getting COVID-19.
She explained: "At the moment, the pro dancers are all in a hotel together in a household and are recording most of the group numbers for the series ahead of the series like we did last year.
"When we get into the live shows, they will be tested weekly, and they will bubble up with their celebrities like last year.
"We will keep everyone distanced from each other, so you won’t see them all up in Claudia’s [Winkleman] area, they will be sitting in the audience like last year on their little tables."
Among the celebrities competing on the show this year are 'Peep Show' star Robert Webb, 'Loose Women' panellist Judi Love, former 'EastEnders' actress Nina Wadia, 'BBC Breakfast' presenter Dan Walker, McFly musician Tom Fletcher and ex-'Coronation Street' star Katie McGlynn among others.
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