Strictly in crisis as Tom Fletcher tests positive for Covid and future on the show is under threat
STRICTLY was plunged further into crisis today as celebrity dancer Tom Fletcher and his professional partner caught Covid - and may have to drop out of the competition.
The blow means that the McFly singer will have to miss next week's show as he goes into ten days of isolation.
And Tom, 36, who's partnered with Amy Dowden, will only be allowed back on the show if he tests negative in time for the following week.
A BBC spokesman told The Sun: "Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden have tested positive for Covid-19.
"The pair are now self-isolating separately following the latest government guidelines.
"While they will both miss Saturday’s live show, Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that all being well, they will return the following week.”
The McFly star, 36, last night kicked off the first live show of the series when he performed a showstopping Cha Cha Cha to September by Earth, Wind & Fire.
His devastating Covid result comes at the end of a week in which Strictly has been embroiled in an anti-vax scandal where three pros have not had their jabs.
It is believed the celebrities they've been partnered with have been unaware which of them are unvaccinated.
Another celebrity tested positive for Covid just over two weeks ago and only came out of isolation on Thursday leaving them with two days to prepare for Saturday's first live show.
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Tom, whose wife is 2020's I'm A Celebrity winner Giovanna Fletcher, 36, tested positive for the virus today (Sunday).
His dance partner Amy, has publicly acknowledged she is vaccinated as she was offered her jabs at an early stage due to the fact she suffers from Crohn's Disease.
She posted on Instagram today: "Unfortunately Tom and I have tested positive for Covid-19.
"I'm not suffering any symptoms but am now isolating at home.
"I have no doubt that over the next 10 days my mind will be going crazy with choreography ideas ready to get back on the Strictly dance floor for the live show in week 3.
"Thank you for all of the support and good luck to all of the couples this week. I will be cheering you all on."
The Covid result came just 24 hours after he opened Strictly's first live show with a cha cha cha, and gained a respectable score of 20 points.
If he is double vaccinated he can take another test in eight days' time and if he tests negative can leave isolation.
But even if ten days passes and he still tests positive he may have to remain in isolation - and that could jeopardise his place in the competition.
Tom was due to perform at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow tonight, but news that he was unwell and wouldn't be performing was posted on the McFly Music official Twitter feed.
It said: "Unfortunately Tom is unwell and won't be onstage with us tonight in Glasgow.
"He sends huge and heartfelt apologies to all the fans he won’t see tonight.
The show will still be going ahead, we’re looking forward to seeing you all and need you guys to sing extra loud for us tonight."
Tom then retweeted the news on his own feed along with the words: "So, so sorry."
When news broke that his illness was Covid, McFly added: "Further to our last message we can now confirm that Tom has tested positive for Covid-19.
"He is now self isolating and following the latest government guidelines. Please join us in wishing him a speedy recovery."
The bombshell diagnosis will feed into ongoing fears over the threat of Covid to Strictly.
On Friday judge Anton du Beke said that a solitary case wouldn't spell disaster, but more could.
He said: "If you get one of those you can sort of survive, but if you get something that spreads through the group, well, that’s the end of the show.”
Tom's proud wife Giovanna was cheering him on from the sidelines last night as he delivered an impressive performance.
Speaking with fans after the show, Tom said: "A week ago I couldn’t dance and tonight I did a cha-cha in front of 10 million people…in heels!
"What a night. Thanks so much to my brilliant partner @amy_dowden for such an awesome week 1 dance.
"What an honour to open the show! Thanks for the lovey comments and support.
"Oh, and no, I didn’t realise I was dressed as the dancing man emoji."
He added: "Look, I know it’s not perfect, not by a long way (especially that spin, sorry Amy!) but I’m super proud of what me and @amy_dowden did on that dance floor last night. Thanks for supporting us. X."
Wearing an eye-catching purple suit, Tom put his best foot forward to dazzle the judges.
Fans were convinced Tom would win the show after head judge Shirley Ballas gave him a standing ovation on week one.
Earlier this week, Tom updated fans on the gruelling rehearsals process and shared of photo of him collapsed on the floor.
Pro dancer Amy also shared a montage of snaps of Tom passed out on the floor.
She hilariously wrote: "Believe it or not we actually have no floor choreography."
Before the start of the series chief executive Sarah James said any pros or celebrities catching Covid during may not have to leave the dancefloor this year.
She confirmed new isolation rules mean the show might not see a repeat of the Nicola Adams and Katya Jones saga last year, which saw Strictly’s first same sex couple forced to quit the show after the Russian pro received a positive test midway through the competition.
She explains: “Last year the isolation period if you received a positive test was 14 days and this year it’s ten days so if a celebrity does receive a positive test, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re out of the competition.”
The news is a particularly cruel blow for Tom who said he'd wanted to be on Strictly for the past decade since fellow McFly band member Harry Judd took part in the show, and won.
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He said: “Secretly, somewhere deep down I’ve wanted to do it since my band mate Harry did it 10 years ago.
“I watched him every week in the studio so I feel like I’ve had some sort of secret desire to do it but then life gets in the way but this year it felt right and it felt like it was time.”
