We are nearing the end of another year of Strictly Come Dancing. Only four celebrities and their professional dance partners are left in the hit BBC show, with just two weeks until the final.
However, Strictly bosses are preparing for the worst and have made a big new rule change to their outlook on Covid, as the Omicron variant continues to spread.
Up until now celebrities who have caught the virus have been given a week’s grace to recover and then return to the show. Viewers will remember Mc Fly star Tom Fletcher and Comedian Judi Love were both given a week off after their positive Covid test result. The juding panel was also hit with the virus after Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse were forced to miss a week of work.
However, according to reports Strictly bosses have decided that anyone testing positive will now be immediately eliminated from the competition. This news has fans very nervous as any one of their favourites could potentially miss out on the finale.
The Sun reports that the semi-finalist – AJ Odudu and dance partner Kai Widdrington, Dan Walker and partner Nadiya Bychkova, John Whaite and partner Johannes Radebe, Rhys Stephenson and partner Nancy Xu, and Rose Ayling-Ellis and partner Giovanni Pernice – were told to tighten their bubble rules to avoid the risk of contracting Covid.
A source revealed to the publication: “Everyone was social distancing before. Now they’re being extra careful.”
The sources also claimed that bosses said: “That [contestants] would no longer be allowed a bye week if they fall ill.”
While a stern warning was issued that any positive result will lead to immediate elimination.”
In the quarter finals this weekend we watched BBC presenter Dan Walker and his partner Nadia Bychkova's elimination. They just missed out on the semi finals, as they lost the dance off to Aj and Kai. Dan's place on the show has always been fairly controversial and he has hit out at the public many times due to disagreements about him being voted to stay week on week.
As the final approaches, bets are in for the 2021 mirrorball champion. For weeks fan-favourite's Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernicehave been predicted as the winners, after their many memorable dance routines. According to Betfair, in second place will be AJ Odudu and her partner Kai Widdrington. Despite being in the dance off this week, after a lift didn't quite land, AJ is still in the running to be in the top two. In the third place spot will be John Whaite and Johannes Radebe. Just missing out on the top 3 spot will supposedly be Rhys Stepherson and his partner Nancy Xu.
Rose Ayling-Ellis - 1/5
AJ Odudu - 7/1
John Whaite - 9/1
Rhys Stephenson - 80/1
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