Strictly winner Kelvin Fletcher to perform socially-distanced routine with Oti Mabuse on this year’s launch show
TRICKY routines are not new on Strictly Come Dancing – but Saturday’s launch show for the new series poses a very different challenge.
Last year’s champs, pro dancer Oti Mabuse and ex-Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, will be back to show their moves.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
But they must somehow perform a socially distanced routine, so Oti does not catch the virus and pass it to her celebrity partner for the latest competition.
Like all couples on the new series, they have been isolating in their own bubble and the producers have been super-strict to ensure the Beeb’s biggest entertainment show goes ahead.
A show source said: “Kelvin and Oti can’t get anywhere near as close as they are used to because of the danger of infection, which would throw a huge spanner in the works.
"But viewers will be intrigued to see how it will work.
“The show’s creative team have all sorts of tricks up their sleeve.
“These include potentially using a perspex screen between the dancers, as on some of Strictly’s counterparts in other countries.”
Producers have gone to great lengths to keep the celebrities — including EastEnders actress Maisie Smith, former boyband singer Max George, actor Caroline Quentin and Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing — and their pro dancers safe.
The show will also see judges Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse at socially distanced desks, with a much smaller audience sitting around tables.
There are fewer contestants this year and the series is shorter than usual, starting a month later and running for nine weeks rather than 13.
It suffered a setback when one of its stars, singer and social-media influencer HRVY, was diagnosed with Covid earlier this month.
But he has since been ruled free of the virus and is clear to join the launch show.
It is becoming obvious every-one will have to work harder than ever to pull off this series — but I feel confident they can do it.
Bizbit
POOR Spencer Matthews was nicknamed “S**thead” because a bird pooed on him at school as he tried to chat-up model Petra Ecclestone. The star revealed all on podcast Spencer & Vogue with wife Vogue Williams.
- Listen to “Spencer & Vogue” now on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts
Jake dares to dip
JAKE Quickenden even manages to look like a total poser as he emerges from the freezing North Atlantic.
Jake, who seems to have done every reality show going, climbed out of Portree Harbour on the Isle of Skye, close to where the new series of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins is being filmed.
He is taking part in the gruelling training course on the nearby island of Raasay along with ex-footballer Kieron Dyer, who is in the chilly water behind Jake.
Meanwhile, Olympic rower James Cracknell may also have gone for a dip . . . but at least he was smart enough to put on some boots, a beanie hat and grab a towel the minute he got on dry land.
Last week I revealed the full line-up being put through the military training by the show’s chief instructor Ant Middleton.
They also include presenters Saira Khan and Ore Oduba, Ulrika Jonsson and Vicky Pattison.
And, of course, the only man who can look just as good as Jake in shorts: Love Island’s Wes Nelson.
Kevin's queasy on Cube
KEVIN Clifton and girlfriend Stacey Dooley have already triumphed after pairing up in a TV competition.
Now, after winning Strictly two years ago, the pair are joining forces again for ITV’s The Million Pound Cube.
After a six-year absence, the show returns on Saturday with Phillip Schofield hosting.
But this time there is a seven-figure jackpot – for charity – up for grabs.
The sum had Kevin quivering. He said: “I was nervous from the beginning, which Stacey picked up on straight away.
“Even as we walked up to meet Phillip on set, I could feel my nerves.
"Stacey suggested I do the first challenge, though she was also confident she could potentially do it, as she said it would help calm my nerves. And she was right.
“We worked well as a team, as we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“There was one challenge where I was offering constructive criticism However, Stacey jokingly tells me that I was being bossy.”
Sounds like the Cube might have caused a bit of a domestic between them.
Prue's groan giggle
CONTESTANTS in The Great British Bake Off tent will be seen in hysterics tonight when Prue Leith appears to have a “Pruegasm”.
The judge of the hit Channel 4 contest trembles and softly groans as she tucks into Hermine’s two-tiered white-chocolate showstopper.
Noel Fielding is left in fits and his new co-host Matt Lucas says: “We call it a Pruegasm.”
The comedian then mimics Prue’s response, which leaves bakers Lottie Bedlow, Mark Lutton and Sura Selvarajah struggling to control their laughter.
I bet they still wanted what Prue was having.
Danny in sex plot
DANNY Dyer will play his part in helping to tackle the issue of child sex abuse during a new storyline for his EastEnders character Mick Carter.
The soap sees the former pub landlord come to terms with his past after newcomer Frankie reveals he is her dad.
She was the result of 12-year-old Mick having sex with Katy Lewis, the woman who should have been looking after him while he was in care.
Most read in Bizarre
Mick finds himself unable to tell his family about what happened to him and suffers from denial.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
To make the difficult storyline as accurate as possible, Danny was able to speak to sufferers of child sex abuse with the help of the NSPCC and Survivors UK.
A spokesman for the NSPCC said: “We hope this storyline will help to give those who find themselves in a similar position to Mick, and any other victims of abuse, the courage to speak up.”
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]