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BBC 'planning normal-length Strictly Come Dancing this year'

Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas says that producers are hopeful of holding a normal-length series this year.

Strictly Come Dancing's head judge Shirley Ballas has revealed that producers are hopeful of putting on a normal-length series this year.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, last year's series was cut short by four weeks - running to just nine instead of the usual 13 - while the annual Christmas special was canned, as was the mid-series trip to Blackpool.

A year down the line, firm health and safety procedures are in place to enable TV shows to be filmed in a COVID-safe manner, and speaking to a fan on Cameo, Ballas suggested that those protocols will enable Strictly to get back closer to normal this year.

"Just a little something: I heard they're trying to do all 13 episodes this year," she said in quotes reported by The Sun.

"Last time we had nine. We're trying to get 13 shows on. I think they're getting used to the COVID thing."

Last year's series was the most watched in eight years, with the final drawing in more than 12.5 million viewers.

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Written by
Neil Wilkes

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