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.
Neil Wilkes
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