Strictly Come Dancing ‘in turmoil’ after dancer Nadiya Bychkova catches Covid

Strictly Come Dancing bosses are said to be panicking after dancer Nadiya Bychkova catches Covid, meaning several stars and crew members must isolate

Strictly Come Dancing dancer Nadiya Bychkova has reportedly test positive for Covid and put the show into crisis mode.

A positive result means that many of the show’s dancers and crew members would have to isolate for 10 days just days after they commenced filming preparations.

And there are now fears that other dancers on the show – both the pros and celebs – may catch the virus despite most of them already being double jabbed.

An outbreak could lead to the hit series’ launch date being pushed back.

A source told The Sun that the news wasn’t the “dream start” and had left BBC bosses “panicking”.

“They are taking every caution to be Covid secure, and keep everyone safe, but can’t control everything,” the source said.

“Nadiya tested positive during one of the first meet-ups, during the studio rig.

“Thankfully none of the celebs have started training yet, but it still means anyone who came into contact with her has been told they must isolate.”

The source claimed that the main fear is that dancers will continue to test positive when the rehearsals and training get underway properly later in the month.

And they said that the show may need to put more safety precautions in place and claimed that execs won’t be willing to take chances with safety their “number one priority”.

Ukranian-Slovenian dancer Nadia has become a regular on the series and has been paired up with the likes of David James, Lee Ryan and Davood Ghadami in previous years.

The Mirror has contacted Strictly representatives for comment.

The latest outbreak isn’t the first time Strictly has had to deal with a coronavirus setback.

Last year, the show ordered the pros and the celebs to isolate for two weeks in the build-up to filming. The couples were also subjected to testing twice a week.

However, boxer Nicola Adams and her partner Katya Jones had to quit the show after a positive test came back for the Russian dancer.

Singer HRVY also was struck down by the virus in the days before the series’ launch show.

Eight famous faces have so far been announced as taking part in the latest series of the hit dance show.

BBC presenter Dan Walker was confirmed as contestant number eight after it was announced he was preparing to join the line-up on Tuesday morning’s instalment of the BBC Breakfast show.

Other celebs already announced include McFly’s Tom Fletcher, TV presenter AJ Odudu and Bake Off champion John Whaite.

Boyband star Tom was the first name dropped for the new series and he shared his excitement to follow in the footsteps of his band mate Harry Judd, who won the series back in 2011.

Bake Off’s John said: “It is an honour, when they asked me if I would be interested I just bit their hand off.

“To do that and represent the LGBTQ+ community is one thing, but also to see two men or two women dancing together, it is not necessarily about sexuality, it’s about intimacy and respect.

“I think that is gonna be such a great thing in our culture where men are conditioned not to open up and be emotional, and I think it will help to combat that.”