Strictly Come Dancing scrap live audience amid new lockdown measures

Show bosses have released a statement

Author: Emma DoddsPublished 3rd Nov 2020
Last updated 3rd Nov 2020

After Boris Johnson's announcement over the weekend about the new lockdown measures, show bosses at the BBC have issued a statement over live audiences for some of their TV programmes.

Although Strictly Come Dancing has been able to return for a 2020 series in a slightly altered capacity, complete with limited studio audience, they have now announced that they will sadly no longer be able to host any audience throughout November.

In a statement on their BBC audience site, they have issued a Coronavirus update which reads, 'In light of the new lockdown measures we're sad to announce that we won't be able to have live studio audiences during this time.

'Ticket holders have been notified. No more tickets will be sent out until we are sure it will be safe and compliant to welcome audiences back, so please keep checking back for updates. We will continue to follow government guidelines.

'Recently, we've been thrilled to welcome virtual audiences to some of our shows and expect there will be more virtual audience recordings available to apply for soon. We’d like to thank all our audience members for bearing with us; stay safe and we hope to see you at a show in the not too distant future.'

Scroll through to see which celebrities are in the Strictly Come Dancing 2020 line-up:

Jamie Laing

After being forced to quit the show in 2019 due to injury, Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing is back to show off his moves in 2020!

Caroline Quentin

Actress Caroline Quentin is most famous for her roles in popular shows such as Men Behaving Badly and Jonathan Creek.

Ranvir Singh

Good Morning Britain presenter will be mixing early morning and grueling rehearsals as she's signed up for the 2020 series.

Jason Bell

Former American footballer Jason Bell will be showing off his moves on the dance floor! He's also the ex-boyfriend of Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle.

Maisie Smith

You'll probably recognise Maisie Smith from EastEnders! She's played the role of Tiffany Butcher since she was just six-years-old!

Max George

Max George is best known for being in boyband The Wanted. His former band mate Jay McGuiness won the show back in 2015.

Bill Bailey

Comedian Bill Bailey revealed he decided to take part in the show for a new 'challenge', admitting his late mum would have loved watching him on the show.

Nicola Adams OBE

Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams will make history on the show as she's set to be part of the first ever same-sex pairing on Strictly Come Dancing.

JJ Chalmers

Scottish TV presenter JJ Chalmers is a former Royal Marine best known for being a public speaker and an Invictus Games medallist.


JJ suffered some life-changing injuries in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2011.

Clara Amfo

Radio and TV presenter Clara Amfo will be hoping to show off her skills on the dance floor.

Jacqui Smith

Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has also joined the line-up for 2020.

HRVY

Despite testing positive for Covid-19 just weeks before the launch show, singer HRVY is now fit and healthy and is ready for the 2020 series.

This comes after Jacqui Smith and Anton Du Beke were the first couple to leave the 2020 series on Saturday 1st November after a dance-off with Jamie Laing and his dance partner Karen Hauer.

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