Strictly bosses ‘are offering doubled fees to celebs to attract an A-list line-up’

Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reportedly offering doubled fees to celebrities as they continue to assess show contingency plans amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Sources claim TV executives are keen for the series ‘to remain the jewel in the BBC’s crown’ and have already put forward contract proposals in a bid to attract a ‘stellar line-up’ for this year’s upcoming series. 

Former contestants are believed to have been paid ‘five figures’, with singer Anastacia and JLS star Aston Merrygold thought to be the show’s most expensive signings for their respective stints in 2016 and 2017.

A TV insider told The Sun: ‘Coronavirus has made planning a TV show difficult but producers are keen for Strictly to remain the jewel in the BBC’s crown.

‘Bookers have been told they can as much as double what they’ve paid for stars in the past.’ 

A Beeb source added: ‘They’ve made some offers already and will be continuing to do so over the next few months to lock down a stellar line-up.’

MailOnline has contacted BBC representatives for further comment.

Earlier this month, insiders revealed to MailOnline that due to BBC executives ‘not knowing what world we’ll be in’ when the show hits screens, they are keeping options open. 

Despite reports claiming one option was to keep the celebrity and dance professionals in isolation together, sources insisted this was not plausible due to family ties yet a shortened run is one option on the table. 

Strictly joins a legion of the nation’s favourite shows in being rocked by the ongoing global pandemic.

Insiders told us: ‘Bosses are looking at contingency plans but just don’t know where there’ll be at. They don’t know what world we’ll be in.

‘The international versions are running. Germany has no audience and are isolating but not in any kind of Big Brother style. Isolating individually then rehearsing.

‘Strictly are looking at options. At this stage, there’s no chance they could isolate as individuals or couples. That would leave any married or parent dancers not seeing their families for up to three months.

‘At the moment, it’s not being considered. No one knows where we’ll be in the world – if the series is a much shorter run, say. The isolation is not something that’s currently on the table.’ 

The new series of Strictly is scheduled for production sometime in August, with the launch episode usually airing in early September. 

Judge Motsi Mabuse is currently filming the German version of the dance series, which has been able to continue filming throughout the pandemic by using similar isolation measures. 

Professional dancer Oti Mabuse – who was crowned series champion with Kelvin Fletcher last year – recently admitted the future of the show still hangs in the balance.

She said on Lorraine: ‘Right now we hope that everything’s gonna be okay, or are we not sure?

‘We’re just hoping that everything can be okay. I think at the moment it’s really important to listen to the government guidelines and just take it day by day. 

‘The most important thing is that everyone is safe and everyone is healthy. So, at the moment, we’re all just isolated together. We’re all in the same boat really.’