Strictly Come Dancing 2012 - who's getting excited?

[CeliaFate]

Just read that Katya Virshilas isn't returning to the show, a new dancer Karen Hauer is taking her place.

Who will be in this year's line up?

[thenightsky]

I think Fern Britton is up for it isn't she?

[CeliaFate]

Ooh she was good in the Christmas show. (polishing my glitter ball now!)

[FrankelSaysRelax]

I can't wait!

Can't remember if I dreamt it, but I thought I heard that Aled from the Chris Moyles Show is doing it.

[HairyPotter]

Oooh, I love strictly. When is it back? Could do with Tess and Brucie though.

[HairyPotter]

Obv meant without not with

[FrankelSaysRelax]

Usually mid/end September for the announcement and October start for a 10 week or so run into Christmas.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Can't wait!

Gossip that I have heard so far:

Claudia isn't doing It Takes 2
Contestants: Sian from BBC Breakfast, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Fern Britton
Darcy Bussell taking over from Alicia

[notyummy]

It is a bit sad, but I LOVE this. Dh is a fan too (and now DD is old enough, she is a fan.) It's become part of our yearly count down to winter, and I will resent having to be dragged away from the TV any Saturday from Sept onwards. Bloody hate Bruce though. Always Sky Plus it and start watching after 30 mins so I can ff through him. I try and ff through all the 'training videos' as well but DH likes those!

[knottyhair]

{waves to notyummy, if she remembers me from Jillian Michaels thread} I can't wait, also see it as a countdown to winter and DP & DS also love it. Also would prefer it without Bruce. Disappointed that Claudia isn't doing ITT but I thought Zoe Ball was good last year as well, considering I thought she'd be a nightmare.

[lucjam]

Oh no not Darcy Bussel, ugh can't hack her shes far too "serious" for strictly :-(

About time that BF retired I think. I liked Zoe on ITT last year so hope they keep her but sad to see the fringe go.

I had heard that Fern Britton is doing it too.

[sleepychunky]

Nooooooo I didn't know Claudia wasn't doing ITT. I luff her. Is it going to be Zoe instead? I will accept Zoe as she was good when she did it and she does at least know what it's like to be on the show.
I wish with all my heart that Bruce and Tess could be replaced. They are the worst thing about it, which is unfortunate when there is so much of them. Whenever Bruce does his annual "look at me I'm an all-round entertainer" vanity spot near the end of the series it actually makes me want to be sick.
Anyway, I had heard that Victoria Pendleton might be doing this year - would love that. Beth Tweddle was asked but said no. I'm sure there will be an Olympian or two

[FrankelSaysRelax]

I had a chat with my dance teacher about Darcey bring a judge. She said the main problem is that Ballet is so different to Ballroom/Latin that she will struggle to understand the opposing concepts of body movement and 2 bodies working in harmony.

However, she will understand musicality, rhythm, etc.

I wish they'd get another proper Ballroom/Latin judge. My teacher knows someone who auditioned for Len's spot before it all began, but as a woman in her 50s she had no chance

[dazzlingdeborahrose]

I don't think Darcey will struggle to understand the ballroom/latin. She'll have done her homework. If nothing else at least we won't have to listen to any more '"that were wicked weren' it" judging comments. My first choice would have been Karen Hardy. I do think the judging panel should be weighted with two ballroom judges and then the other two can comment on musicality etc.

I think Darcey will be okay and I suspect she might back Len up on some of the technical stuff. If we couldn't have a ballroom specialist as a judge then a professional dancer in a very technical field of dance is probably the next best thing.

BTW, my top tip for Sleepy is to record Strictly and then whizz through the Tess and Bruce bits. That's what I do. Sometimes I just put the sky on pause for about 15 minutes and then start watching and that's normally enough for me to whizz through the brucie bits and catch up just at the end of the programme.

[FrankelSaysRelax]

Of course Darcey will be better than Alesha, but no matter how much homework she does she won't have the intimate knowledge of Ballroom/Latin technique that comes with dancing it over many years.

I would have much preferred Karen too

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Love Strictly - it is such fun to watch it with my DD who just loves the dresses, the dances and the whole show.

Not so keen on the whole Tess and Brucie thing - every other part of the show has been tweaked, why can't they tweak this.

Please could we also not have the Sunday results show - who are they trying to kid?


But excited ...

[tribpot]

Karen has always been my top choice for judge; she is one and she really knows her stuff, as well as the show's format. I fear for Darcey she won't be sure where to pitch her comments between what she'd say if coaching a ballet dancer (i.e. "that was total shit, do it again") and what she'd say to a member of the public trying to do a little dance routine in front of her ("very good try").

I won't be watching ITT if there's no Claudia. And indeed unless the Strictly team can find some actual people I've heard of to be on it, I won't be watching much of the series until it gets towards the final, either. It has to be watched with a time delay so you can fast forward all the pointless bits at the beginning (and the training footage for couples you're not particularly interested in - which was nearly all of them last year).

[gregssausageroll]

I have heard Beth twaddle who is the Olympic gymnast may be doing it. Rebecca adlington was asked but she can't take part due to other commitments. I am sure there will be some other athletes in there too.

[AvengingGerbil]

Marking my place! I don't care who the contestants are in advance because I've usually never heard of more than one or two of them - they could run the show without celebs, and just have people who want to learn to dance imo (but I know they couldn't 'sell' that). I could live with Brucie (not literally) if only they got rid of the vacuous Tess as his sidekick - get Claudia to do it instead!

[tribpot]

I think Tess is okay but forced into a ridiculous 'sidekick' role which harks back to the 'glory days' of 70s panel shows when it was basically obligatory to have a model/sycophant to make the male presenter look good. Tess could (and has) carried the show on her own so making her simper about mugging up to Brucie is painful to watch. Likewise if Claudia had to do that role she'd be (more obviously) like 'WTF are you on about?' to him and probably Tweeting to that effect as well

[HaitchJay]

Another one who wants Tess and Bruce replacing!

Tess still interviews couples as if she's never seen anyone dance before and needs prompting as to who they are and what dance they did.

[FrankelSaysRelax]

BBC have just released tickets for the audience for the Red Carpet unveiling (11 Sep) and Premiere Show (12 Sep).

I can't link but google "BBC be in the audience" and you should find it

[tribpot]

Premiere

Red carpet event.

[AmIthatbad]

I'm getting excited. Definitely a sign that autumn is here and Christmas is approaching.

It's a shame that Katya wasn't asked back, but at least the gorgeous Pasha is returning.

Oh and Forsyth and Daley..................no, just no

[jezzla]

Poor old brucie getting a hammering, I like him on the show, needs to be taken with a pich of salt. Worried some new presenter might ruin in. Please dont Brucie bash guys!!

[AmIthatbad]

Sorry , I watch SCD despite Forsyth. I cringe all through his "look at me" stuff and his supposed dancing, once likened to someone stamping on ants.

I'll bash away, thanks very much