Strictly Come Dancing | 2020

Speculation time: Phillip Schofield "in talks" to become a contestant this year, possibly alongside a male partner, in the show's first ever same sex couple.

All that aside, just how would this show be able to work this year if distancing regulations remain in place? No audience? No lifts? No live band? And where would the production be filmed?

Other participants: I'd love to see Chris Mason from the newsroom doing it. I think he'd be a winner.

There was talk of the whole team being housed together for the entire run - so they’re all in their own extended bubble thus getting around some social distancing regulations. Of course if one of them gets symptoms then the whole shebang will be scuppered. Again, I don’t know whether that was pure speculation.

As for Philip Schofield, I’d be quite surprised if that happens given his almost exclusive itv appearances of the last couple of decades.

Do they really want one of the hosts of Dancing on Ice on Strictly?

Bearing in mind the only place I've seen this is on the front page of the Daily Star...

The Phillip Schofield rumour just doesn’t feel right.

My gut feeling is that the first same-sex couple will include one of the Drag Race contestants.

Agreed. It worked well for Courtney Act in Australia, and it means they could take advantage of dressing up in drag for some performances which would add some fun to it. Maybe Divina de Campo from the UK cast.

I highly doubt the Schofield rumour. I can imagine they've tried to get him, it would be a coup and the same sex partner story would generate a lot of publicity given his public coming out, but it just doesn't fit. He's Mr ITV.

Yeah, that is a non-starter. The Daily Star is definitely wrong about this one!

"in talks"

This quickly blows over with minor scrutiny. They would be leaving it very, very late if they still haven't nailed down the participants (and spares) for this run. I know the series is shorter than normal this year, but still.
Oh, and training usually starts in August for the upcoming series.

Nothing more than a front page filling made up nonsense story, by someone who doesn't know how programmes like this work.

https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-08-02/phillip-schofield-strictly-come-dancing-same-sex-couple/ - Phillip is not taking part.

According to Shirley Ballas in the baftas, 10 shows instead of the usual 13. Also seen a rumoured start date of 24th October, but that would mean the final would be on Boxing Day which doesn't seem right.

10th October is a more realistic start date.

Or 17th October as that takes us to the Saturday before Christmas (which is when the Final should really be and has only been the week before the past few years becuase of Craig Revel Horwood's panto commitments.)

That October 24th start date came from the papers saying it was supposed to be only 9 shows a few weeks ago.

Yeah that looks like a realistic start date.