It’s been one of TV’s biggest ratings winners since it began in 2004.
And Strictly Come Dancing reigning champion Oti Mabuse, 29, has admitted that the future of the BBC show is uncertain with show bosses taking things ‘day by day’ amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain with Lorraine Kelly on Monday morning, the professional dancer revealed that those involved with making the show are ‘just hoping that everything can be okay’ and that it can still go ahead later this year.
Oh no! Strictly’s reigning champion Oti Mabuse, 29, has admitted that the future of the BBC show is uncertain with show bosses taking things ‘day by day’ amid the coronavirus pandemic
Preparations for Strictly, which is is set to start filming in September, were due to start in June.
Lorraine quizzed Oti about the next series of Strictly, asking: ‘Right now we hope that everything’s gonna be okay, or are we not sure?’
Oti admitted: ‘We’re just hoping that everything can be okay. I think at the moment it’s really important to listen to the government guidelines and just take it day by day.
‘The most important thing is that everyone is safe and everyone is healthy. So, at the moment, we’re all just isolated together. We’re all in the same boat really.’
Reining champs: The dance competition airs every year in autumn (pictured last year’s winners Oti Mabuse and Kelvin Fletcher), and BBC previously suggested the show could go ahead
Hopeful: Talking to Lorraine on Monday morning’s GMB, the professional dancer revealed that those involved with making the show are ‘just hoping that everything can be okay’
All in the same boat: ‘The most important thing is that everyone is safe and everyone is healthy. So, at the moment, we’re all just isolated together. We’re all in the same boat really’ she added
Lorraine replied: ‘You have your title to defend!’
Later that morning, Oti’s sister Motsi Mabuse, 39, appeared on This Morning from her home in Germany.
The Strictly Come Dancing judge Strictly judge explained to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford how Germany’s version of Strictly is still going ahead, despite the coronavirus pandemic
Motsi said: ‘What’s different? First of all the couples are quarantined together. They train and live together. So, that’s quite different.
Keep dancing! Last week BBC bosses confirmed Strictly Come Dancing was set to go ahead this year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (pictured L-R Bruno, Motsi, Shirley and Craig)
Popular: Strictly Come Dancing has been one of TV’s biggest ratings winners since it began in 2004 with millions tuning in each year to watch celebs taking to the dancefloor
‘We do not have an audience. They cut in an applause. They’ve changed the stage – it’s just a lounge – and there are minimum people in the studio, they’ve stripped it down.
‘And it’s constantly being cleaned. Everyone, even the make-up artists wear masks. The first few weeks it didn’t feel quite right.’
Oti’s admission comes a week after BBC bosses confirmed Strictly Come Dancing was set to go ahead this year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The broadcaster’s controller of programming suggested the dance competition, which airs every year in autumn, could still go ahead.
Speaking to Emma Bullimore on BBC Essex, BBC’s Dan McGolpin said: ‘It wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have Strictly in the autumn, would it?
‘So no of course the BBC is doing everything it can, and I know that everyone involved in that production team would absolutely love that to happen this Autumn.’
The competition typically launches in August or September with the reveal of the celebrity lineup, and live shows follow in October as the programme concludes in December.
Dan said he was hopeful filming would kick off as planned, if the current health crisis improves, adding: ‘We’ve really just got to keep watching the government advice, thinking about what’s possible.
‘And if there’s any way of bringing Strictly back this autumn, then we absolutely will. That’s very much our intentions, so yeah fingers crossed.’
The show must go on: It comes Anton du Beke has vowed to return to the Strictly dance floor for the next series and cleared up concerns over the show’s fate (pictured 2017)
Dan echoed comments made by pro dancer Anton Du Beke, who is keen to push on as planned.
Anton said on The Steph Show: ‘The actual live stuff doesn’t start until about September, so we’re hoping we’ll be out of it by then and back to some sort of normality.
‘I think everyone will be ready for a bit of Strictly Come Dancing by then!’
Whenever the programme returns, it will be without departing stars Kevin Clifton and AJ Pritchard, after both the pros recently confirmed their respective exits.
Head judge Shirley Ballas has paid tribute, saying: ‘They’ve been a great part of the show. We love them, we wish them well, they’ve chosen to go onto other things, but the show will continue.’
Goodbye: Whenever the programme returns, it will be without departing stars Kevin Clifton (pictured with Anneka Rice) and AJ Pritchard, after both the pros recently confirmed their exits