‘Everyone was told to leave!’ Strictly Come Dancing in crisis as former crew member tests POSITIVE for Covid-19 just days before recording on new series begins
- A source told MailOnline: ‘the crew member is no longer on the production and has had a negative NHS test result’
- The insider added: ‘recording isn’t due to happen until later this week so there is minimal impact’
Strictly Come Dancing has reportedly been left in crisis.
According to a new report, a former crew member has tested POSITIVE for coronavirus, just days before recording on the new series of the BBC show is set to begin.
As a result ‘everyone was told to leave,’ according to a source, who claimed that the set was also given a powerful deep clean as show bosses await the results of a third medical test on the lighting expert.
Crisis! A former Strictly crew member has tested POSITIVE for coronavirus, just days before recording on the new series is set to begin (Pictured: Champions Oti Mabuse and Kelvin Fletcher)
According to The Sun, the lighting expert spent a week working on the dance contest’s set.
Following his positive test result, at least five staff who were in close contact with him were sent home and told to self-isolate and await tests of their own, according to the report.
Additionally, a deep clean of the set using powerful electrostatic sprayers, was apparently ordered.
The report also claims that a third test on the worker is anxiously being waited for, after a second medical check on his Covid-19 status came back as ‘inconclusive.’
The publication’s source also claimed that panic spread quickly among the professional dancers who were due to start filming in the studios tomorrow.
A source told The Sun that the crew member would have been in close contact with ‘dozens of others on the set of Strictly.
The insider said: ‘They were hours away from starting filming for the pre-recorded professional group dances when they got a call to say that one of the crew members had tested positive when turning up for another job.
‘Everything juddered to a halt while worried bosses worked out what to do. This is the worst-case scenario for Strictly, as they’ve gone to extreme lengths to make the show safe up to this point.
‘Starting a show then stopping mid-production is the most expensive thing that could happen, so they’re praying it’s not more serious than just one person potentially having it.
The source also insisted that filming in the studio needs to begin this week if the show is going to be able to film the group dances ahead of the series’ scheduled start date.
A source told MailOnline: ‘the crew member is no longer on the production and has had a negative NHS test result.
‘Procedures were followed and stringent protocols have been put in place just in case, but recording isn’t due to happen until later this week so there is minimal impact.’
MailOnline has contacted Strictly Come Dancing for comment.