Craig Revel Horwood says Strictly Come Dancing could film without live audience under lockdown

The show is due to return in September

Craig Revel Horwood has said that Strictly Come Dancing could follow in the footsteps of Dancing With The Stars Australia and perform without a studio audience during coronavirus lockdown.

Appearing on Steph McGovern’s Channel 4 programme The Steph Show on Monday, Horwood said that BBC bosses were doing everything in their power to make sure that Strictly could return in September even if social distancing rules were still in place.

“I’ve spoken to the producers and they are working through absolutely everything to try and make it happen,” he said.

Speaking about his experience judging Dancing With The Stars, he explained: “When I did it in Australia, we managed to do it without a studio audience, and when people needed to be isolated, one couple, for instance, stayed in a hotel for two weeks and they performed live from the hotel rooftop.

“They set remote cameras up and it was absolutely amazing. There was a summer breeze wafting through their costumes and it was amazing.”

He continued: “So there is a way around it, and it could be even more spectacular.”

Choreographer Revel Horwood, who has served as a judge on Strictly since its first series in 2004, recently revealed that the BBC would be airing special compilation episodes over the summer to keep fans entertained while the show was away.

There will be lots and lots of Strictly to watch over the summer, which is great,” he explained.

The Saturday night competition show is due to return for its 18th series in September, with rehearsals scheduled to kick off in August.