Strictly Come Dancing's US counterpart Dancing with the Stars has come up with a unique solution for a couple who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The US dancing competition has been dealing with both Cody Rigsby and pro partner Cheryl Burke unable to compete in last week's live show because both had tested positive for the virus.
They have since been isolating in different places, leaving their participation in next week's show in question too. Show bosses have been debating whether missing two weeks would disqualify the pair.
Related: Why this year's Dancing with the Stars is already causing controversy
According to ABC News, Rigsby and Burke have been given a chance to stay in the competition by dancing under the rarest of circumstances.
They will be performing a routine from home this week — and thus they'll be performing separately! Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Len Goodman, Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli will analyse these separate performances to score them as a couple.
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Burke has explained that she'd "turned [her] living room into a ballroom" to continue training, while Rigsby insists he is well enough to continue dancing from home.
"I'm feeling okay, but I'm so excited to dance for Britney [Spears] week on Dancing With the Stars one way or the other," he said.
Related: Dancing with the Stars' JoJo Siwa speaks out after making history with show appearance
Strictly Come Dancing has been facing a similar dilemma on this side of the pond, since McFly star Tom Fletcher and professional partner Amy Dowden have both tested positive for COVID-19 as well.
Rather than dance from home, show bosses have granted them this weekend off. Instead, the duo have said they will return in week 3.
Strictly Come Dancing 2021 continues on Saturday (October 2) on BBC One.
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The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
