Strictly’s HRVY announces he is ‘free from Covid’ after testing negative for virus

HRVY has announced he is ‘free from Covid’, eight days after he revealed he had tested positive for the virus.  

The YouTube star, 21, who is part of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing celebrity line-up, took to Twitter on Thursday to announce he has tested negative for the virus after being told by doctors to spend 14 days in isolation. 

HRVY said: ‘He’s free from Covid, he’s a free elf now… thank you for all the kind messages, I tested negative today so I’m back, love you guys and see you all soon”.

The social media star, real name Harvey Cantwell, celebrated the news by sharing a slew of snaps of himself jumping in puddles in his white Nike Air Forces.

While many of his fans took to the comments to send their well-wishes to HRVY, others said getting drenched in the rain wasn’t the wisest way to celebrate.  

One wrote: ‘You’re covid free but you’re gonna get pneumonia if you stand out in the rain in puddles’, while another added: ‘Okay now please go inside, we don’t want you getting it’. 

A third chimed: ‘Aaaaa i’m so happy, but pls keep taking care of yourself’. 

HRVY tested positive just days after mixing with his co-stars on the BBC show.

The YouTuber will now take part in the launch show now he has got his negative test result. 

However a source said his positive test was ‘the worst-case scenario for Strictly, as they’ve gone to extreme lengths to make the show safe up to this point’.

A spokesman for the show insisted all celebrities on the show are ‘tested regularly’ and claimed that the positive test has had ‘minimal impact on production’. 

The launch show will air on BBC One in just nine days time on October 17 while the first live show of a pared-down nine week run will be broadcast on October 24. 

Strictly Come Dancing contestant HRVY (Harvey Cantwell) has tested positive for Covid-19

A smiling HRVY confirmed in a social media video that he was asymptomatic, but admitted he was ‘bored’ because he has to stay in his bedroom for the next 14 days.

He said: ‘Hi guys, so I wasn’t going to say anything cause I didn’t want to worry anybody, or be dramatic, but I’ve got coronavirus, I’ve tested positive, all is fine.’

‘I’m isolating. I have no symptoms luckily, so I’m just chilling, I’m bored. I’ve been making Tik Toks if you haven’t seen already but it just proves that us youngsters, we can get it and not even realise so for now stay safe.

‘I’m fine, I’m chilling but I’m going to be in this bedroom for the next ten days or two weeks. I think it’s two weeks. I’m not sure but I’m going to be here for a while so I guess I’ll see you guys on the other side.’

The YouTuber tested positive on Monday and received his results on Tuesday, hence his confusion as to the quarantine period. Strictly stars are tested twice weekly. 

Brave face: A smiling HRVY didn’t seem too bothered by his test results but admitted he was bored as he has to stay in his bedroom for the next fourteen days 

After it was announced HRVY had coronavirus, he tweeted: ‘Morning guys, just a little thought. I’m only 21 and in good health so it just shows that being young doesn’t make you invincible, so make sure you wear a mask please, have a good day.’

Former home secretary and fellow Strictly Come Dancing contestant Jacqui Smith said HRVY is ‘fine’.

Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, she said: ‘HRVY is an absolute sweetie and I was in touch with him yesterday, he’s completely fine, he’s got no symptoms.’

She said all Strictly contestants are being tested ‘very regularly’, adding: ‘Strictly is still going ahead. There are all sorts of extremely careful restrictions and conditions in place to enable the programme to happen and HRVY, I’m sure, will be back after his isolation period in time to take part in the competition.

‘So all of us have sent our love to HRVY and he’s obviously really peeved that he’s having to stay at home but he’ll be back…’

A spokesman for Strictly told MailOnline today: ‘We can confirm that a member of the Strictly team has tested positive for coronavirus and they are now self-isolating at home following the latest government guidelines.

Too late? He will have to remain there until October 8, according to sources, which is just four days before the celebrities are partnered up with their pro dancers 

‘We have rigorous protocols in place to manage Covid-19 as the safety of all those involved in the production is paramount.

‘We briefed that we are still in pre-production and all celebs are tested regularly. We said we would not reveal the name of individual for private health reasons but they are feeling well.

‘We also briefed that the celeb will be taking part in the launch show (pending a negative test result) and that they only came into contact with a handful of production crew, who were then isolated and tested, therefore minimal impact on production.’ 

A source told The Sun: ‘This is the last thing Strictly wanted. They’ve been jumping through hoops since day one to make sure everything is done safely and with as minimal risk to the cast and crew as possible.

‘But with just 10 days until the celebrities are introduced to their partners, this is the worst-case scenario. 

Precautions! This follows the news that stars would potentially be undergoing daily checks for coronavirus after a former crew member tested positive days before the new series

‘Bosses have scrapped the replacements this year so if someone falls sick, that’s it, they’re out. And with a crunched-down run, there is no room for error.’

HRVY was at the BBC this week with fellow contestants Jason Bell, Clara Amfo and Maisie Smith, to publicise the upcoming series. 

They kept to social distancing rules and the other three have been tested and are negative. 

This follows the news that stars would potentially be undergoing daily checks for coronavirus after a former crew member tested positive days before the new series.

The hit BBC One dance show was said to be in a crisis following the news with ‘everyone told to leave’ and the set given a ‘deep clean’.

And now it has been claimed that stars could undergo daily checks in a bid to keep everyone ‘virus free’ with ‘nothing left to chance’. 

HRVY was at the BBC this week with fellow contestants [L-R] Clara Amfo and Maisie Smith, as well as Jason Bell

The source added that the ‘nightmare scenario’ is a case going ‘undetected’ and ‘spreading’ throughout both cast and crew.

The Sun has also claimed that bosses have a list of ‘stand-by’ celebrities for the show in case a star falls ill with relatives likely banned from rehearsals and no live studio audience allowed.   

The newspaper claimed that a 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 claimed 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 reported that panic spread quickly among the professional dancers who were due to start filming in the studios tomorrow. 

A source told also told the site 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, admitting that it’s already ‘a race against time.’.  

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.  

The report comes days after the final line-up of celebrities taking part in the upcoming series was confirmed.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, 57, and YouTube star HRVY were confirmed as the final contestants this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.  

They joined Jason Bell, Ranvir Singh, Clara Amfo, Caroline Quentin, Jamie Laing, Bill Bailey, JJ Chalmers, Max George, Maisie Smith and Nicola Adams on the line-up. 

Strictly Come Dancing Contestants 2020

CAROLINE QUENTIN

Age: 60

Profession: Actress, known for roles in Men Behaving Badly and Jonathan Creek

Caroline says: ‘I hope my knees don’t let me down and I hope the foundation garments live up to expectations when I start leaping about!’

Fun fact: She met her now-husband, Sam Farmer in 1998 on the set of Men Behaving Badly when he was one of the studio runners.

MAX GEORGE 

 Age: 31

Profession: Singer – from former boy band The Wanted

Max says: ‘Nan – I’m doing Strictly this year!’ as he vowed to make his superfan grandmother proud

Fun Fact: Max’s fellow The Wanted bandmate Jay McGuiness was on Strictlby Come Dancing in 2015 – and won it!  

CLARA AMFO

 Age: 36

Profession: Radio 1 presenter

Clara says: ‘As we know this year has been a real challenge and escapism through dancing is something I know we all enjoy’

Fun fact:  Clara has some experience of celeb gameshows, having taken part on Celebrity Masterchef in 2018

BILL BAILEY 

 Age: 55

Profession: Comedian and TV personality

Clara says: ‘I’m not Lord of the Dance, more a sort of caretaker of the dance’

Fun fact:  Bill is a classically trained musician and multi-instrumentalist

 

 MAISIE SMITH 

 Age: 19

Profession: EastEnders actress

Maisie says: ‘Get me in those sequins, I can’t wait to dive into the Strictly fancy dress box this winter!’

Fun fact:  Maisie won the 2019 Children In Need special of Strictly with Kevin Clifton 

 

 HRVY

 

 Age: 21

Profession: YouTube star 

HRVY says: ‘Being on Strictly is going to be such an amazing experience and I’m so thankful to be taking part this year.’

Fun fact:  HRVY follows in the footsteps of former internet star contestants Joe Sugg and Saffron Barker – the latter of whom is close friends with him 

 

JASON BELL

Age: 42

Profession: Retired American Football player – now a pundit

 Jason says: ‘I am thrilled. I’m a huge fan of the show, I’ve been watching it since I came to this country, so it’s time for me to do something cool to impress my daughter, now that she can watch me perform!’

Fun Fact: Jason is the father of Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle’s daughter. The couple were together for 11 years, only splitting recently in 2019

 RANVIR SINGH 

 Age: 43

Profession: ITV broadcaster, Political Editor for GMB

Ranvir says:  ‘It feels like I’m on a rollercoaster… Hopefully after the first dance I will feel exhilarated rather than sick!’

Fun fact: Ranvir is the fourth GMB star to star following Susanna Reid, Richard Arnold and Charlotte Hawkins.

 

NICOLA ADAMS  

 Age: 37

Profession: Double Olympic gold medallist boxer

Nicola says: ‘I’m a huge fan of the show and am thrilled to be part of something that holds such a special place in so many people’s hearts’

Fun fact:  Nicola will form the show’s first ever same-sex pairing as she is parterned with a female professional. 

   

  JJ CHALMERS

 Age: 55 Profession: Comedian and TV personality Clara says: ‘I’m not Lord of the Dance, more a sort of caretaker of the dance’ Fun fact: Bill is a classically trained musician and multi-instrumentalist

Age: 33

Profession: Ex Royal Marine and Invictus Games medallist

JJ says: ‘Strictly is a whole different ball game in respect to the challenges I will face but I’m up for an adventure’

Fun fact:  JJ is close friends with Prince Harry after they worked together on the Invictus Games

 

 JAMIE LAING 

 Age: 31

Profession: Made In Chelsea star

Jamie says: ‘I’m over the moon I actually get to come back and dance again. It’s going to be unbelievably amazing!’

Fun fact:  Jamie was forced to pull out of the 2019 series of Strictly after a foot injury 

 

RT HON JACQUI  SMITH

 Age: 57

Profession: Politician

Jacqui says: ‘I was speechless with excitement at being asked to join Strictly – and that’s very rare for me…!’

Fun fact:  Fifty years ago, she received a bronze medal for Scottish Highland Dancing