STRICTLY Come Dancing could again be thrown into Covid-related chaos as Judi Love hasn’t put in a step of training two days before the next live show.
The Loose Women star, 41, tested positive for coronavirus last week and has told how she has lost her sense of taste, smell and ‘has been coughing like she needs a TENA Lady sponsorship’.
While the ITV favourite has been on her sick bed nursing herself, her partner Graziano Di Prima has been out partying instead of rehearsing.
This means Judi’s rehearsal days have been slashed down to one – tomorrow – after a source revealed she had not been in training today.
Neither Judi or Graziano have documented any rehearsals on their Instagram pages as they usually would, which has sparked fear behind the scenes.
The pair are set to don their Halloween outfits and perform the routine they were set to showcase last week due to their scant practise time.
Yet if they fail to do so – and Judi drops out – the series will be thrown into yet more chaos.
McFly singer Tom Fletcher previously pulled out for one episode when he tested positive for the virus.
Comedian Robert Webb has also pulled out for the entire series due to a pre-existing heart condition.
Previously Ugo Monye was absent after a back injury – but has since been eliminated.
This means there will be three – not four – couples in the final and there are fears this could be further exacerbated if Judi is a no-show.
Fans have even called for the eliminations to be cancelled in order to level things out.
Read our Strictly Come Dancing live blog for the latest updates
SICK BED
In a new video, recorded while laying down at home, Judi has also revealed the unusual but traditional West Indian remedies she has tried in an attempt to shift the illness.
The comedienne – who is supposed to be back in the ballroom with dance partner Graziano Di Prima this Saturday – posted the clip on Instagram, branding the virus as “Damn Rona”.
Despite feeling unwell, Judi has credited her recent dance training for helping her to feel better than she perhaps could have.
Judi said: “I don’t even know what day it is. Some kind of motivation day.
“I just wanna say to you guys, Rona is real. I give thanks that I was doing exercise and dancing thing. I feel like I’m handling it much better than I would have if I hadn’t been doing exercise and sweat.”
Sounding croaky, she continued: “You can hear from my voice…I have done all the West Indian recipes and remedies. For those who are West Indian, especially Jamaicans, you know what I’m talking about.
“I eat the garlic, onion, the turmeric, the honey, the expensive honey – the Manuka one – the ginger, the lime, the lemon, the rum.
“I’ve had all kind of soup… chicken foot soup, lamb neck soup, red peas…and my voice is still like this.”
Judi went on to tell her fans that she has been unable to taste or smell her remedies due to ‘Rona’.
“The Rona will then turn around to you and say, you know what, on top of that, Bredrin, I’m going make you not able to smell or taste,” she says.
“I mean, I can’t even smell myself and I know some of you lot need to smell yourself.”
Judi also describes the time since testing positive as a “rough couple of days”.
But she has warned others to ‘get their health in order’ in case they are also struck down with Covid.
“Health is wealth,” she explained. “I just mean having that health so you can live at your optimum, you can continue creating memories, having life experience, spending time with loved ones as long as possible.”
Judi also told fans that ‘Rona has got her coughing so hard you’re begging for a sponsorship from TENA Lady’.
PARTY TIME
As Judi filmed her sick bed video, Graziano, 27, was seen without a mask in a busy bar in Soho, central London, and was snapped with ex-pro Robin Windsor.
A TV insider said: “He has done nothing wrong as he is double-jabbed and had tested negative.
“But it’s a terrible look for the show, which has strict social distancing measures in place for filming.
“And this isn’t the first time that pros have been seen breaking social distancing, which makes it very uncomfortable for producers.”
Graziano was in Freedom Bar, one of the biggest venues in London’s gay village.
‘UNFAIR ADVANTAGE’
Fans of the show have accused Judi of having an “unfair” advantage with partner Graziano on Saturday, following a week off from the live show.
Writing online, one person said: “I like Judi but a bit unfair she gets to the dance she was supposed to do last week? Ugo & Tom moved on to a new dance”.
Another tweeted: “I think it’s because Judi spent 4 days on learning her dance before going into isolation. I don’t think it’s unfair at all. She’s stronger in Latin so this could be her best week yet #Strictly”.
A third chimed in, writing: “I’m really surprised that Judi can do her Cha Cha, when I thought if you missed a week you had to miss the week before’s dance?”
