Strictly’s Maisie Smith learnt to cook and clean for the first time while living alone as she isolated for the show
STRICTLY's Maisie Smith learnt how to cook and clean for the first time while living alone as she isolated for the show.
EastEnders actress Maisie, 19, who is best known for her role as Tiffany Butcher in the long-running soap, is living on her own for the first time so that she can perform in her bubble with pro dancer Gorka Marquez.
She was introduced to Strictly fans who saw her with Gorka and she said she was "so happy" to be teamed with the Spanish choreographer.
And asked how she has been coping living alone so far, Maisie, from Essex, told show host Claudia Winkleman: "It's amazing. I'm absolutely loving it. I'm doing all this stuff I haven't done before. Cooking and cleaning! It's all stuff I've never done before, it's exciting."
The teenager said the dance she is most looking forward to performing is "Latin, because I've got the hips!".
Gorka, who did not have a celebrity partner in 2019 but danced his way to the final in 2018 with Alexandra Burke, then revealed the pair will perform the Samba for their first dance next week.
Last night, the show took place in front of a socially-distanced audience and this year's contestants are subject to coronavirus rules.
Strictly will run for just nine weeks this year, with no Halloween special or Blackpool trip.
Everyone on set must wear a mask, take frequent temperature checks and sanitise.
There will be multiple deep cleans each day, and anyone on set must sign a form to state they have no Covid symptoms.
However, Strictly bosses scrapped the idea to make the celebs isolate throughout the series.
Producers have quietly shelved the move and instead agreed to contestants coming and going.
But they have been told they must stick to their contractual hours and social distance while cameras are not rolling.
Pro dancers like Oti Mabuse will still face tougher measures than the celebs when the show launches on October 17.
A Strictly source said: “The BBC has pulled out all the stops to ensure the show must go on. But there have been difficulties. Mutinous celebs have hidden behind their agents in rows with bosses.
“Some stars made it clear that isolation away from their families was a no-no. There was a lot of grumbling.
“The BBC had no choice but to back down. It will appear that the contestants live in quarantine, but that will only be half the story.”