Strictly Come Dancing stars Katya Jones and Nicola Adams ‘will return to sister show It Takes Two’

Gethin Jones has confirmed Strictly Come Dancing couple Nicola Adams and Katya Jones will return to spin-off show It Takes Two as soon as their coronavirus isolation has ended. 

The show’s first same-sex couple were axed from the Strictly line-up on Thursday after Russian dancer Katya tested positive for COVID-19, despite the introduction of strict new guidelines by producers. 

But Gethin, 42 – himself filling in for Rylan Clark-Neal after the presenter came into contact with a COVID carrier – insisted they would get them back on the sister show at the first available opportunity. 

Addressing viewers on Thursday evening, he said: ‘I’m afraid I do have some very sad news. Some of you may already know that Nicola and Katya have had to withdraw from the competition, after Katya tested positive for Covid-19.

‘She doesn’t have any symptoms and is feeling good, but is obviously devastated that their time on Strictly has come to an end early, as we are.

‘We will get them on the show for a chat as soon as their self-isolation period is over. Nicola and Katya, we’re sending you all of the love tonight. Thankfully the rest of the cast are unaffected.’

It’s understood that four crew members on the show have also been forced to isolate after coming into Katya, who believes she may have contracted the virus while visiting a sandwich shop. 

Katya and Nicola Adams, trained together on Monday and Tuesday – and Katya tested positive that day, according to sources.

A source close to Nicola told MailOnline: ‘She’s hoping her Strictly dream is not over.

‘There’s lots of hurdles to overcome but if it’s possible she can compete with Katya in the 2021 series, Nicola will want to make it happen.’

In a separate blow to the beleaguered show Oti Mabuse has also been forced to isolate for two weeks following an ’emergency’ trip to Germany – promoting the return of eliminated dancer Anton du Beke, who will fill in during her absence. 

While the Strictly cast have been in social bubbles, they are allowed to continue their daily business as normal, with insiders now claiming ‘furious’ BBC bosses have vowed to tighten the rules for the remaining celebs.

A Strictly representative confirmed to MailOnline that bosses are not launching an investigation into how Katya contracted the virus as there is no way to indicate where she may have caught it. 

A source told The Sun: ‘The BBC’s top brass are mutinous. It’s been drummed into everyone that they need to follow protocol at all times – and some are saying that Katya has clearly broken the rules.

‘Katya has been living alone at her flat and people have speculated whether she caught it when she went to grab a coffee and sandwich from shops during a break in training.

‘The BBC have since spoken to all the celebs and dancers and they’ve been told to bring in packed lunches from now on.’

‘Apparently they’re all really paranoid because Katya had no symptoms and it’s a miracle Nicola didn’t get it as they were dancing so closely.

‘The Celebs have also all asked their families to isolate as much as possible, and get supermarket deliveries.’