Strictly Come Dancing producers are reportedly considering putting this year's celebrities and their dance partners into isolation to ensure that the show can go ahead.
The popular ballroom dance contest traditionally starts on BBC One in late September, with the celebs typically beginning training one to two months prior.
That schedule has been thrown into doubt due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, with most TV productions around the world on hold as vast swathes of the population remain in isolation.
According to The Sun, the BBC has come up with an "emergency back-up" plan for Strictly, which would see the couples effectively enter their own quarantine and live studio audiences scrapped.
"Strictly is so up in the air at the moment, but it is too important to the Beeb for plans not to be put in place," a source told the newspaper. "The stars would be put into isolation with their pro partners over a week before the start of the series to avoid any risks of illness. In theory they would stay in the same place and then train together daily with minimal contact with the outside world.
"It's an extreme idea but it's one of many that's being bandied around in meetings at the moment. The Strictly curse is something bosses want to avoid every year because they want it to remain a family show, but it's a risk they're willing to take. Strictly is the biggest show on the BBC and they want to do everything to keep it going."
The 'isolation' format of Strictly has already been deployed on the German version of the show, which has remained on air throughout the coronavirus crisis.
Neil Wilkes
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