Strictly tour floored by stomach bug

The Strictly Come Dancing tour was thrown into chaos at the weekend as some of the celebrity dancers were struck down with illness. The 45-date tour kicked off in Newcastle over a week ago, but many of the routines had to be re-arranged in Manchester after at least four dancers were forced to pull out due to the winter vomiting bug, according to reports in The Mirror. Jodie Kidd and Cherie Lunghi were unable to perform at the weekend, while Jill Halfpenny and Kenny Logan were sick on Friday. Professional dancers Ola Jordan and Lilia Kopylova were also poorly but were able to keep dancing. Dancer Camilla Dallerup, who won the BBC1 show with celebrity partner Tom Chambers (pictured) - who is also taking part in the tour - told a friend: "Everyone's worried they might get it. We're just praying everyone gets better." A source said: "It was thought those affected had food poisoning at first but quickly because clear it was far worse. Everyone pulled together to get through the weekend - but it was tough." A Strictly source confirmed that a number of dancers were struck down with illness on Friday but the show still went ahead. A tour spokesperson said on Sunday that everyone was well again and the tour was not under threat. Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.