Devoted fans of Strictly Come Dancing were left utterly bewildered this week after a glaring on-air blunder exposed the truth about the show's popular companion programme, It Takes Two. The revelation came during Tuesday's broadcast, shattering the illusion for many viewers who believed the show was always broadcast live.
The On-Air Blunder That Revealed All
As presenter Fleur East ran through the dances scheduled for the upcoming Blackpool special, she confidently introduced a Samba performance from La Voix and her professional partner Aljaž Škorjanec. The segment played out with music, seemingly confirming the couple's participation. However, this directly contradicted an official announcement made earlier that day.
The BBC had already confirmed that the drag performer, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, had been forced to withdraw from the Blackpool event. The 45-year-old star had sustained an injury, and doctors advised rest and recovery, leaving La Voix reportedly 'devastated and heartbroken'.
The production team was forced to display a text message on screen during Fleur's segment, which read: 'Sadly, La Voix will not be dancing this weekend due to injury. But in line with the rules will receive a bye into next week.' This corrective message made it undeniably clear that the show had been pre-recorded before the injury news broke.
Fan Reaction and BBC Clarification
Unaware of the typical filming schedule, viewers immediately took to social media to express their shock and confusion. The incident sparked a flurry of tweets from fans who believed the show was broadcast live. One stunned viewer wrote: 'They specifically say that #ItTakesTwo is live, but they just had to put a message on screen... so they clearly aren't live?!'
Another commented, 'So #ItTakesTwo isn’t live either? Is the Saturday show #live? Is the whole thing real?' showcasing the depth of the surprise. The blunder led to widespread speculation about the nature of the show's broadcast.
Representatives for Strictly Come Dancing later provided clarification to The Daily Mail. They confirmed that while the majority of It Takes Two episodes are filmed live from Elstree, there is a key exception. Tuesday's edition is consistently pre-recorded on Monday evening, shortly after that night's live results show has aired. Live episodes are explicitly referred to as such during the broadcast, whereas pre-recorded shows are not.
La Voix's Heartbreaking Withdrawal
The entire situation stemmed from the unfortunate injury that forced La Voix to miss the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom event. In a heartfelt statement, the performer expressed profound disappointment. 'It is with immense sadness that I have to withdraw from this weekend’s Strictly Come Dancing shows in Blackpool,' they said.
'Due to an injury, I’ve been advised that I’m unable to perform, and my heart truly breaks knowing I won’t be dancing in such an iconic venue.' La Voix added that they and Aljaž had 'worked incredibly hard' and were excited to share their routine, but their focus is now squarely on recovery.
Amid the confusion, one more knowledgeable fan offered a clear explanation online, penning: 'It's only LIVE Monday's Wednesday's Thursday and Friday. Never LIVE on Tuesday I don't know why.' This insider insight finally provided the clarity that the on-air mistake had obscured, confirming the show's standard weekly recording pattern for its dedicated audience.
