Strictly Come Dancing: Decision to enforce vaccines for contestants is 'for the producers', PM says
Boris Johnson has said the producers should decide of the Strictly Come Dancing contestants are jabbed
Boris Johnson has suggested the decision to make Covid vaccines compulsory for all dancers on Strictly Come Dancing is one "for the producers".
It's been widely reported that three professional dancers refused to get vaccinated ahead of the first show on Saturday.
When asked if the performers should be kicked off the show, Mr Johnson, who is in Washington on a diplomatic visit, outlined the benefits of vaccination but would not get drawn into specifics.
"I think that is a matter for the producers," the Prime Minister said.
"I strongly believe that people should get vaccinated," he added.
"I think it is a great thing to do for yourself, your family and your community."
Among this year's celebrity line-up are the likes of BBC breakfast host Dan Walker, McFly star Tom Fletcher, TV presenter AJ Odudu and Peep Show’s Robert Webb.There has been no official confirmation of the vaccination status of the contestants, with the BBC insisting it is following all government guidelines to ensure the show can be made safely.
Neither has it been confirmed who, if any, of the professional dancers are unjabbed.
But one of the celebrity partners of a dancer who has allegedly not been vaccinated has said they "should have been protected,” according to The Sun. “They just couldn’t believe that their partner would not have had a jab," a friend of the celebrity told the newspaper.
"Strictly is the biggest show on TV and has been trumpeting its anti-Covid measures throughout the pandemic."
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Wading into the controversy, former Strictly professional dancer James Jordan, who featured in the show between 2006 and 2013, has said they should not be allowed to take part without vaccination.
Mr Jordan told ITV's Good Morning Britain: “I just think it’s a really, really selfish thing to do. And also, what you have to remember, in previous years on Strictly, your immune system gets low, lots of people get sick anyway."
The Strictly Come Dancing launch show, which aired on Saturday night, saw the celebrity contestants learn who their professional partners will be.
CBBC host Rhys Stephenson and former Bake Off winner John Whaite will be taking to the dancefloor in the BBC One series, with Whaite set to compete as part of the show’s first all-male pairing.
As was the practice last year, the professionals all formed a bubble before the start of production so they could record the group routines. Each dancer will then form a bubble with their celebrity partner so they can compete in the live shows.
A spokesperson for Strictly Come Dancing told ITV News: "We do not comment on speculation of somebody’s Covid vaccination status.
"Strictly Come Dancing production has, and will, continue to follow strict government guidelines to ensure the safety of all on the show."