Strictly Come Dancing 2021

[XIII]

This is me being picky but could Rob or one of the mods correct the spelling of Janette’s surname in the sub title as it’s Manrara not Manranra.

[Newshound47]

https://twitter.com/bbcstrictly/status/1...28162?s=19

[VMPhil]

I don't think we give ourselves enough credit for how quickly people adjust to things - we got pretty used to the social distancing, and then when shows like Richard Osman's House of Games switch to repeats at first it feels like everybody is so close to each other but it soon feels normal again.

I thought it was weird when people were saying they found it unnerving watching old episodes of TV programmes where people were closer together. As if everyone being miles apart with perspex screens seemed like the default! Probably the same people that kept using the disturbing phrase "the new normal" (it was never normal).

[Flux]

I don't think we give ourselves enough credit for how quickly people adjust to things - we got pretty used to the social distancing, and then when shows like Richard Osman's House of Games switch to repeats at first it feels like everybody is so close to each other but it soon feels normal again.

I thought it was weird when people were saying they found it unnerving watching old episodes of TV programmes where people were closer together. As if everyone being miles apart with perspex screens seemed like the default! Probably the same people that kept using the disturbing phrase "the new normal" (it was never normal).

I don't think anyone's hoping the extreme 2m spacing and perspex screens will hang around forever, but I think what it has done is quickly changed our perception of personal space. I am genuinely surprised now looking back at old clips of some shows quite how close some people were squashed together (to keep on topic, Strictly's judges desk is a prime contender). Never questioned it at the time, but it looks really uncomfortable now because of what we've become accustomed to. Even if Covid disappeared completely tomorrow and it was deemed 100% safe to go fully back to "normal" I doubt anyone would want to be *that* close again, not even because of safety but because we're just more aware of our own space.

[XIII]

I think most people will be happy with somewhere in the middle in terms of distancing but TBH nobody bats an eyelid when Eamonn and Ruth sit close together on This Morning since they live together so it’s not going to look weird when shows eventually go back to having presenters or members of the public in close proximity

[JK1985]

If people have been vaccinated and are then regularly tested before appearing on a TV show, would this mean social distancing rules could be relaxed surely? As not only are they vaccinated, they will also be tested before they being any appearance on a show, so a double health/safety check involved.

[iloveTV1]

Sara Davies MBE is the next confirmed contestant.

[Flux]

If people have been vaccinated and are then regularly tested before appearing on a TV show, would this mean social distancing rules could be relaxed surely? As not only are they vaccinated, they will also be tested before they being any appearance on a show, so a double health/safety check involved.

Yes for shows which are effectively a bubble in themselves (e.g. Love Island) because they're so self contained and there's limited opportunity for someone to catch the virus once they're shooting. But with something like Strictly (and, in a wider sense, GMB, This Morning, The One Show etc.) where individuals are in and out of filming, or appearing as guests, you're talking about testing every single person every single day to make that plan effective.

Just one positive case could mean everyone involved could suddenly be thrown into isolation, and whilst the rules on that are relaxing soon (a fully vaccinated person coming into close contact with a positive case will need to take a PCR test, which is negative rules them out of isolating) it's still a gamble. Just look at Bridgerton. And there are also currently 3 full West End shows which have been forced to close because the whole cast and crew have been ordered to self isolate due to just one member of the production testing positive.

Now you obviously can't stage Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat without the cast coming into close contact with each other, but you can keep crew and on screen talent distanced on shows Strictly Come Dancing. And if I were producing a large scale show like that right now, my priority would be to guarantee getting a full series out rather than seeing Craig Revel Horwood sitting a metre closer to Motsi Mabuse.

[Johnr]

Sara Davies MBE is the next confirmed contestant.

Bit of a strange one for GMB to announce her rather than a BBC vehicle! I suppose Morning Live is on a summer break

[Brekkie]

They always have a couple announced on ITV - usually the ITV stars though. Similarly I think the BBC announce some DoI stars too. Sara Davies for me is not someone who for me has name recognition but I knew who she was when I looked her up.

With The One Show on a break as well I guess the BBC only really have Breakfast and radio to rely on now to announce them on their own network. Indeed if they'd already got an obligatory Olympian signed up I'm surprised they didn't get that announced as part of the final day coverage yesterday.

[BcastCornwall]

Interesting coincidence, BBC Breakfast on Twitter

https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/...9190378504

RT's by Richard Friediani
to which I responded

Dan has some free Saturdays now.

within the hour Mike Bushell followed me

Tomorrow might be interesting.

[Andrew]

Which member of BBC Breakfast hasn’t done it yet?

I’m guessing it’ll be Louise Minchin

If not, I could see Owain Wyn Evans doing it if not this year than next

[iloveTV1]

https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcstrictly/s...4961906697

https://mobile.twitter.com/bbcstrictly/s...3270524928

[UTVLifer]

They always have a couple announced on ITV - usually the ITV stars though. Similarly I think the BBC announce some DoI stars too. Sara Davies for me is not someone who for me has name recognition but I knew who she was when I looked her up.

With The One Show on a break as well I guess the BBC only really have Breakfast and radio to rely on now to announce them on their own network. Indeed if they'd already got an obligatory Olympian signed up I'm surprised they didn't get that announced as part of the final day coverage yesterday.

I suspect that if they have for an Olympian signed up, they might be revealed as part of the BBC's coverage of the Team GB Homecoming Concert on Saturday night

[Andrew]

That’s the ex ITV soap star and BBC Breakfast presenter boxes ticked off

As Brekkie says, an Olympian or sports person is still to tick off, as is the Radio DJ