has been forced to drop out of this Saturday’s after testing positive for .
The Loose Women presenter, 40, who was due to perform the Cha-cha with dance partner Graziano Di Prima, 27, will be given a free pass to compete in the show the following week- providing she has a negative Covid test.
Judi is the second star to miss a live show due to Covid, with McFly’s Tom Fletcher, 36, and his dance partner Amy Dowden, 31, missing out on week two of the series.
Missing a week: Judi Love has been forced to drop out of this Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing after testing positive for Covid-19 (pictured with dancer partner Graziano Di Prima)
A Strictly spokesperson said: ‘Judi Love has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating following the latest government guidelines.
‘While Judi and Graziano will not be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this weekend, Strictly Come Dancing protocols mean that all being well, they will return the following week.’
Judi herself confirmed the news in a tweet on Thursday, writing to her fans: ‘Hey my lovelies it’s with great disappointment that I will not be performing this weekend @bbcstrictly due to testing positive with Covid 19.
Isolating: A Strictly spokesperson said: ‘Judi Love has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now self-isolating following the latest government guidelines’
‘Hoping to make a speedy recovery & dance for you next weekend.Stay safe & thank you for your well wishes.’
A source told MailOnline that Graziano has not tested positive for Covid-19.
Her absence comes just weeks after fellow contestant Tom and his professional partner Amy were forced to pull out of the competition in week two after they too tested positive for the virus.
Last week, Judi and partner Graziano narrowly avoided being eliminated from the competition after landing in the dance-off against Greg Wise – who was eventually sent home.
The week before, the Loose Women star found herself up against Katie McGlynn in the bottom two, with the former Corrie actress losing her place on the show.
Judi’s temporary exit from the BBC dance show comes amid odds that she’s the 10-11 favourite to get the boot, following on from her being in the dance-off for two weeks in a row.
Uh oh: Judi’s absence comes just weeks after fellow contestant Tom Fletcher and his professional partner Amy Dowden were forced to pull out of the competition in week two after they too tested positive for the virus
Coral spokesperson John Hill said of Judi’s odds: ‘Our betting suggests Judi’s luck is going to run out this weekend as she is odds-on to be eliminated from Strictly.’
Comedian Judi and dancer Graziano had been set to perform the Cha-cha to Physical by Olivia Newton-John on Saturday.
Week two of the competition saw McFly’s Tom and Amy miss the show after they both contracted coronavirus.
The musician told how he was ‘frustrated’ to miss the show and told fans in an Instagram live that the worst part of it was having to quarantine away from his kids.
Not this time: Comedian Judi and dancer Graziano had been set to perform the Cha-cha to Physical by Olivia Newton-John on Saturday
The pair were given a bye and returned to the competition the following week for the movie special, where they impressed with an energetic jive.
This year’s Strictly stars are subject to regular Covid tests, and are required to maintain social distancing at all times during filming.
The couples have formed Covid-safe bubbles for training and performances, but are prohibited from mixing.
Last year contestants Nicola Adams and Katya Jones were forced to pull out of the show after testing positive for Covid, because their isolation meant they would have had to miss two weeks of filming.
This year the government’s Covid guidelines changed, meaning anyone who tests positive is only required to isolate for 10 days, and if contestants are double vaccinated they can end their isolating in eight days if they test negative for Covid.
Strictly’s run of bad luck continued last week as rugby star Ugo Monye was forced to pull out of the show due to injury.
Axed: Last year Nicola Adams and Katya Jones were forced to pull out of the show after testing positive for Covid, because isolation rules meant they would have had to miss two live shows
The rugby union player, 38, – who is partnered with – took to to reveal to fans that he was suffering from ‘back problems’ but would be back the week after.
Ugo wrote to fans last week: ‘Unfortunately I’m not going to be able to dance this weekend on the show.
‘I have a history of back problems which has always been managed under the guidance of medical professionals.Unfortunately this has been causing me some unwanted problems this week!
‘I have been advised by medical professionals and with huge support from Strictly to get some treatment & rest to ensure that I can get myself back to full capacity and fighting fit for week.’
Upsetting: Strictly’s run of bad luck continued last week as rugby star Ugo Monye was forced to pull out of the show due to injury
Ugo concluded that he was ‘gutted’ to not be returning to the dance floor this weekend alongside professional partner Oti.
‘Wishing all the other contestants the best of luck & will be cheering them on from home,’ the star concluded in his Twitter thread.
Ugo’s announcement came just a day after Robert Webb bowed out of the show, admitting he had ‘bitten off more than he could chew’, having an ongoing heart condition two years after undergoing open-heart surgery.
Robert said of the decision: ‘I’m extremely sorry to have to announce that I’m withdrawing from Strictly Come Dancing due to ill health.
‘Two years ago I had open heart surgery and although I believed I was fit enough to take on Strictly and its demanding schedule, it became clear that I had bitten off way more than I could chew for this stage in my recovery.
He went on: ‘I’m proud of the three dances that Dianne Buswell and I managed to perform and deeply regret having to let her down like this.I couldn’t have wished for a more talented partner or more patient teacher, and it’s a measure of Dianne’s professionalism and kindness that I was able to get as far as I did.
‘Thanks too to everyone at home who voted for us. It was always going to be a difficult mountain to climb (for one thing it’s made of glitter so it’s very skiddy) and I’ve been especially touched by the support from fellow heart patients.
‘I think perhaps I was too eager to impress them.They will know that recovery doesn’t always go in a straight line, and I hope they’re not too disappointed that I ran into the limits of my resilience much sooner than I’d hoped.
‘I leave knowing that Strictly viewers are in very safe hands and I’ll be cheering for my brother and sister contestants all the way to Christmas.
‘Despite this sad ending, it has been a genuine honour to be part of this huge, joyful and barking mad TV show.Long may it continue.’
Dianne added: ‘As a massive fan of Robert’s I was delighted to find out that he was joining the Strictly family. On top of this, to find out he was my partner was the icing on the cake.