Strictly Come Dancing stars Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden test positive for COVID-19

Strictly Come Dancing stars Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden will miss next Saturday’s instalment of the show after testing positive for COVID-19.

The pair were an instant hit with fans following a technically promising first dance during Saturday’s live launch.

But in a blow to the BBC show Tom, 36, and Amy, 31, will now be forced to isolate after contracting the respiratory bug.

A show spokesman told MailOnline: ‘Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden have tested positive for Covid-19. The pair are now self-isolating separately following the latest government guidelines.

‘While they will both miss Saturday’s live show, Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that all being well, they will return the following week.’

The pair were seen leaving the BBC show on Saturday night in a taxi together, both wearing blue disposable masks.

It comes after Tom was also forced to pull out of a McFly show in Glasgow because he was feeling too unwell with the illness, while three unnamed professional dancers on the show remain unvaccinated.

Amy took to Instagram to share the news, saying: ‘Unfortunately Tom and I have tested positive for Covid-19, I’m not suffering any symptoms but am now isolating at home. I have no doubt that over the next 10 days my mind will be going crazy with choreography ideas ready to get back on the strictly dance floor for the live show in week 3!

‘Thank you for all of the support and good luck to all of the couples this week. I will be cheering you all on!’

Many familiar faces were quick to comment on the post, with fellow professional dancer Oti Mabuse writing: ‘We love you can’t wait to see you soon.’

Previous winner of the show Stacey Dooley sent her love by penning: ‘Oh darlin…’

While Strictly dancer Dianne Buswell wrote ‘Love you xxx see you back the d floor soon xx.’

Last year, Boxer Nicola Adams was forced to pull out of the competition after her partner Katya Jones tested positive for the virus.

The news comes after One of Strictly Come Dancing’s three unvaccinated professional dancers reportedly decided to have their jab.

The anonymous pro dancer’s change of heart comes after mounting pressure from former Strictly stars and the Prime Minister Boris Johnson to have the vaccination.

Speaking to The Sun, an insider revealed: ‘No-one told them they have to get jabbed but it was a decision they came to themselves and felt it was the best thing to do for everyone involved.’

The source continued: ‘The pro felt that the narrative had gotten out of control and wants to bring back the focus to the competition.

‘It was becoming a guessing game as to who had been vaxxed and who hasn’t where as the professional dancers’ main focus is the dance floor.’

The jab row has threatened to overshadow the start of the 19th series, which began in earnest on Saturday as the 15 celebrities and their professional partners took to the dance floor for the first time.

Three out of the 18 professional dancers remain unvaccinated and in the run-up to the opening of the competition there was also a confirmed Covid case among the participants.

Tom and Amy were the first to take the dance floor with an energetic Cha Cha to September by Earth, Wind & Fire, after squeezing rehearsals and training around the singer’s nationwide tour with McFly.

Setting the bar high, he was praised by the panel, who said he was ‘going to go far’ if he could improve his leg and foot action, and earned a score of 21 out of 40.

Making his debut as an official judge on the panel for the first time, Anton Du Beke said: ‘All I can say is if touring isn’t enough, why don’t you come along and do strictly in the evenings, I thought it was a fabulous performance.

‘They say dancing starts from the ground up and your leg action was good, strengthen up your foot and leg action and I think that will see you all the way through.’