Strictly Come Dancing bosses have already confirmed some major changes for this year’s series in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but it’s claimed that an even bigger shake-up is still in store.
The judging panel, which usually features Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Bruno Tonioli and head judge Shirley Ballas, will reportedly be a member down this year as one judge’s participation is up in the air.
![Strictly judges](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5efb/3067/a1de/ea5b/9ff8/b040/strictly-judges.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Bruno also judges Strictly’s American counterpart Dancing with the Stars, which airs at the same time, and usually jets between the two countries for each show but current travel restrictions means he may not be able to take part in the BBC One series.
It was rumoured last week that Cheryl was in talks to replace Bruno - and she even got the seal of approval from the man himself - but now it’s been suggested that Strictly bigwigs are planning to go ahead with the show without filling his seat.
CHECK OUT Strictly Come Dancing's most...err... memorable moments
Most memorable Strictly Come Dancing moments EVER! STACKED
![Ann Widdecombe as Big Bird](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/49/0ddea/dd53e/60f8a/cbc49/84172/053dc/anne-widdecombe-strictly1_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
1. Ann Widdecombe as Big Bird
![Bruce Forsyth shooing McFly off the dancefloor after Harry Judd won in 2011](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/ca/d5a6f/87354/d5290/30c64/b528a/aabb2/bruce-forsyth-mcfly-strictly-new2_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
2. Bruce Forsyth shooing McFly off the dancefloor after Harry Judd won in 2011
![Gavin Henson snogging Bruno Tonioli](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/e9/99f43/97c8a/34a68/ee317/34ad8/7af78/gavin-henson-bruno-tonioli-strictlyi_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
3. Gavin Henson snogging Bruno Tonioli
![Mrak Ramprakash getting tangled up with his partner Karen Hardy](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/72/71c89/e8a50/ddcee/6787e/fd717/807ff/mark-ramprakash-strictly_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
4. Mark Ramprakash getting tangled up with his partner Karen Hardy
![Russell Grant emerging from a seashell](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/25/2306d/74a53/44d1c/35bb1/268e3/23c63/russell-grant-strictly1_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
5. Russell Grant emerging from a seashell
![6. Nancy Dell'Olio's terrible Halloween performance](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/74/1c4d9/f9812/8f2aa/aa1e8/569fe/70ea1/nancy-dellolio-strcitly_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
6. Nancy Dell'Olio's terrible Halloween performance
![Quentin Wilson gets the lowest score ever. Erm, 8 out of 40...](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/78/f6866/bafb5/9fb23/ab759/3a5f3/4efb2/quentin-wilson-strictly_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
7. Quentin Wilson gets the lowest score ever. Erm, 8 out of 40...
![Ann Widdecombe's Paso Doble](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/e0/33632/0a83c/aafb5/46381/4143a/fafd6/anne-widdecombe-strictly2_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
9. Ann Widdecombe's Paso Doble
![John Sergeant's wasn't much better, mind you...](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/05/b3f52/c8e72/9124f/3576d/dbc8b/e6eb5/john-sergeant-strictly_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
10. John Sergeant's wasn't much better, mind you...
![Bruce Forsyth and Anton du Beck join forces](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/ed/ed078/43e15/b25f1/f7f26/e5b45/13d88/bruce-forsyth-anton-du-beck-strictly_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
11. Bruce Forsyth and Anton du Beck join forces
![Russell Grant gets shot out of a cannon](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/lifestyle-legacy/99/445c1/b70e1/9bd66/96e08/71aff/b3f31/russell-grant-strictly2_940x526.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
Russell Grant gets shot out of a cannon
![Ed Balls' EPIC Gangnam Style routine](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a37/e9bb/7981/813a/bf87/1b53/ed_balls_gangnam_style.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
12. Ed Balls' EPIC Gangnam Style routine
![Susan Calman totally killing it as Wonder Woman](https://images.bauerhosting.com/legacy/media/5a37/ea5c/7981/813a/bf87/1b95/susan_calman_wonder_woman.jpg?auto=format&w=1440&q=80)
13. Susan Calman totally killing it as Wonder Woman
READ MORE TV news and spoilers
Davina McCall responds as Brian Dowling slams Big Brother for 'rewriting history'
A TV insider told The Sun, “As things stand, Bruno won’t be replaced and they’ll switch to three judges.
“The BBC hope the rules on flying will be relaxed by the autumn which means Bruno should be able to take part.
“They don’t want to go through a long process of replacing him when he could have done it anyway so it’s very doubtful Cheryl will be there, not as a judge anyway.”
WATCH ‘Taylor Swift kicked us out’: Gaz and Sophie on what happened at the EMAs | My First Times
A BBC spokesperson confirmed last week that this year’s competition will be shorter than usual, with the show rumoured to begin in October.
They announced, “The Strictly Come Dancing team are doing everything they can to bring the nation plenty of Strictly magic later this year.
"To ensure we deliver the high standards audiences know and love, and in light of the ongoing considerations around COVID-19, this year's series of Strictly will have a slightly shorter run than usual. The safety of our cast and crew is of the utmost importance to us and further updates will be made in due course.”
It’s also been claimed that contestants and professional dancers will have to isolate together in order to comply with social distancing rules.