‘Strictly Come Dancing’ pros could be in lockdown for six weeks before this year’s series begins.
BBC bosses have been determined to get the show on this year amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it is thought the professional dancers – who will include the likes of Oti Mabuse – will have to isolate away from the public for six weeks, four weeks in a hotel to learn group numbers and a further two weeks at home before the programme starts.
A show insider said: "These are unprecedented times.
"The crew and dancers are still reeling at being told how extreme the measures have to be. They’ve left one lockdown for another.
"They’ve got girlfriends, boyfriends, wives, husbands, children and pets – it’s not going to be easy being separated for that length of time.
"Nevertheless, they love the show and are determined to bring it back to our screens."
Bosses are planning to "constantly" test the pros for coronavirus.
The source added to The Sun newspaper: "The lockdown only affects people that need to be within two metres of each other.
"They’ll be constantly tested – that goes without saying."
Earlier this week, ‘Strictly’ pro Dianne Buswell confirmed the show’s professional dancers will isolate in a hotel this year.
She said: "We’ll be all getting together in a hotel and we’ll be doing all our routines, all our pro numbers, together. It’s gonna be a lot of fun actually.
"I think we’re all very excited for it."
But not everyone appears to be too keen on the isolation plan, as Anton du Beke previously admitted he hopes he and his co-stars will not have to quarantine in a hotel.
He said: "Potentially, we will end up in a hotel for a couple of weeks or a month. That’s what has been spoken about and has been provisionally pencilled in.
"Everything else is contingencies but we’re waiting for instructions and the situation is massively fluid at the moment, so we will see what happens.
"It will be lovely to be with my ‘Strictly’ family – they are terrific and I love them all – but without Hannah and the children will be difficult, especially after having all this time together.
"I’m hoping we’re not going to have to do it but we will wait and see."
‘Strictly’ is to air a "slightly shorter run" than usual this year due to the pandemic.