The new series of Strictly Come Dancing will be even shorter than first thought, according to a report.
The BBC is pressing ahead with the ballroom contest despite the complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with additional health and safety measures being put into place on set.
Last week the BBC confirmed that the new series had been pushed back until mid-October and now The Sun reports that it has been cut short by four weeks and will air over nine weeks instead of the usual 13.
"BBC bosses are doing everything in their power to give the public as much Strictly as they possibly can and safely," a source told the newspaper.
"A heavily-reduced schedule gives them a lot longer to pre-record certain segments to minimise risk. It does mean it will be starting much later in the year, and will finish very close to Christmas with the final currently scheduled for December 19."
The news means that the new series, which will be the shortest since the first series in 2004, will not begin on BBC One until October 24.
Neil Wilkes
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