Strictly Come Dancing pros give a glimpse into their ‘hotel bubble’

The Strictly Come Dancing professionals gave fans a glimpse into their ‘hotel bubble’ on Saturday’s launch show.

The dancers were forced to self-isolate together for 14 days last month at the historic, The Manor Hotel, near the Elstree Studios in order to pre-record the group routines.

Listing the show’s strict regulations, the pros revealed they were placed in quarantine for 14 days and tested twice for coronavirus before moving in.

Bubble: The Strictly Come Dancing professionals gave fans a glimpse into their ‘hotel bubble’ on Saturday’s launch show

Amy Dowden said: ‘Due to Covid-19 and the guidelines in place, we have had to create a bubble.’

To which Neil Jones added: ‘All the pros and some of the crew are moving into this amazing hotel.’

Amy continued: ‘We usually spend the whole month learning all the group numbers and perform them throughout the series. However, this year, we have pre-recorded all of the group numbers to make it safer for us all.’

Janette Manrara then revealed they had to quarantine for 14 days and be tested twice for coronavirus before arriving at the hotel 

Isolation: The dancers were forced to self-isolate together for 14 days last month at the historic, The Manor Hotel, near the Elstree Studios in order to pre-record the group routines

Isolation: The dancers were forced to self-isolate together for 14 days last month at the historic, The Manor Hotel, near the Elstree Studios in order to pre-record the group routines

Intense: Listing the show's strict regulations, the pros revealed they were placed in quarantine for 14 days and tested twice for coronavirus before moving in

Intense: Listing the show’s strict regulations, the pros revealed they were placed in quarantine for 14 days and tested twice for coronavirus before moving in

Karen Hauer admitted that it had been ‘really lonely’ isolating by themselves and was nice to be reunited together.

The pros joked that it was an intense experience as they had two weeks to learn all of the group numbers and it was just ‘dance, dance, dance’ with ‘no escaping’.

Strictly then shared a glimpse of the group routines being pre-recorded in the studios, revealing that all crew members had to wear masks with everyone on set sanitising their hands. 

With the crew working together around the clock, 300 costumes were made during the 25-day hotel bubble stay.

Amy Dowden said: 'Due to Covid-19 and the guidelines in place, we have had to create a bubble.'

Amy Dowden said: ‘Due to Covid-19 and the guidelines in place, we have had to create a bubble.’

Lovely: To which Neil Jones added: 'All the pros and some of the crew are moving into this amazing hotel.'

Lovely: To which Neil Jones added: ‘All the pros and some of the crew are moving into this amazing hotel.’

While the sets and routines will have exciting stunts including explosions, trains and bikes with the pros saying ‘it looks like a full on movie production’.

The dancers also had to pre-record the final group routine and even a festive Christmas performance. 

Elsewhere, also during the show, Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly outlined how the show had adapted to the current climate and introduced safety measures.

They told the audience: ‘Earlier in the year out dedicated professional dancers isolated at home before moving into a hotel together and becoming a household.

Strict: Janette Manrara then revealed they had to quarantine for 14 days and be tested twice for coronavirus before arriving at the hotel

Strict: Janette Manrara then revealed they had to quarantine for 14 days and be tested twice for coronavirus before arriving at the hotel 

'Lonely': Karen Hauer admitted that it had been 'really lonely' isolating by themselves and was nice to be reunited together

‘Lonely’: Karen Hauer admitted that it had been ‘really lonely’ isolating by themselves and was nice to be reunited together 

‘Because of this they were able to perform their group dances together. We will explain more about that later in the show.’ 

The glam pair then continued: ‘And there are some other changes too, Tess and I are two metres apart and we have a smaller audience in household groups and socially distanced from each other.

‘And thankfully Dave Arch and his wonderful orchestra and singers are here and are able to perform safely too.’  

The Strictly Come Dancing 2020 pairings were revealed on Saturday night during the highly-anticipated pre-recorded launch show for the 18th series.

Dance, dance, dance: The pros joked that it was an intense experience as they had two weeks to learn all of the group numbers and it was just 'dance, dance, dance' with 'no escaping'

Dance, dance, dance: The pros joked that it was an intense experience as they had two weeks to learn all of the group numbers and it was just ‘dance, dance, dance’ with ‘no escaping’

Incredible: Strictly then shared a glimpse of the group routines being pre-recorded in the studios, revealing that all crew members had to wear masks with everyone on set sanitising their hands

Incredible: Strictly then shared a glimpse of the group routines being pre-recorded in the studios, revealing that all crew members had to wear masks with everyone on set sanitising their hands 

Celebrities including Nicola Adams, Jamie Laing and Maisie Smith discovered which professional dancer would put them through their paces in the upcoming weeks. 

The pairings were revealed as Nicola and Katya Jones, Jamie and Karen Hauer, Maisie and Gorka Marquez, Caroline Quentin and Johannes Radebe, Jason Bell and Luba Mushtuk, and Max George and Dianne Buswell. 

Rounding off the Strictly duos were Ranvir Singh and Giovanni Pernice, Clara Amfo and Aljaz Skorjanec, Bill Bailey and Oti Mabuse, JJ Chalmers and Amy Dowden, Hrvy and Janette Manrara, and Rt Hon Jacqui Smith and Anton du Beke.

Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 7:25pm on BBC One. 

Staying safe: Elsewhere, also during the show, Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly outlined how the show had adapted to the current climate and introduced safety measures

Staying safe: Elsewhere, also during the show, Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly outlined how the show had adapted to the current climate and introduced safety measures 

How is Strictly 2020 going ahead during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Strictly Come Dancing has introduced an array of strict measures to ensure the new series can go ahead during the COVID-19 crisis.

Celebrity contestants and their professional partners are tested regularly, with cast and crew told to isolate should they contract the virus.

Bosses have already confirmed any celebrity that tests positive once the series begins will be dropped from the show, with reports saying there are celebrities on stand-by.

The professional dancers have already pre-recorded their group performances after isolating together in a hotel.

It’s also been claimed that celebrities and pros will be axed from the show if they are caught kissing during filming.

Strictly 2020 has also seen the series run shortened to just nine weeks, with 12 celebrities taking part instead of the usual 15.

The show’s annual trip to Blackpool has been cancelled, along with this year’s Halloween and Christmas specials.

Only three judges – Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse – will be in the studio with separate rostrums, after Bruno Tonioli was unable to appear due to travel concerns. 

Veteran judge Bruno has said he will be ‘involved remotely’ and hopes to return full-time towards the end of the series as he is filming the US version of the show in Los Angeles. 

With limited studio crew, big sets may not be built – so producers will use augmented reality, which adds computer-generated elements.

To ensure the contestants can work closely with their partners, they will ‘bubble up’ to train, along with being tested regularly. 

Strictly will still feature a live audience, however fans will sit in groups on separate tables, and will only attend if from the same household or bubble.

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