Strictly Come Dancing 2016!

[SheHasAWildHeart]

Seems like the BBC are starting to announce the celebrities taking part this year - and Angelica Bell (children's TV presenter) is the first name. I got that info from Twitter rather than an official BBC source so I don't know how true it is!

No announcement yet on the pro dancers, but there were a handful who announced at the end of last series they weren't coming back - Ola, the girl who danced with Jay and the Irish pro. (I forget their names as soon as the series end!)

[AnthonyPandy]

Ooh watching!

[AnthonyPandy]

Is the Irish one Tristan MacManus?

[SheHasAWildHeart]

Yes the lovely Tristan has left

[SheHasAWildHeart]

Just read online that the celebrities actually won't be announced until end of August/early Septemeber and any names appearing in the papers will just be pure speculation.

Also read online that SCD are keen to get anyone who does well in the Olympics to take part: "With the Rio games coming to a close on August 21, the line-up is now not expected to be finalised until early September."

[AnthonyPandy]

That didn't really work with Victoria Pendleton though, did it? I thought she would be much better.

[SheHasAWildHeart]

Dan Wootton from the Sun is reporting that Judge Rinder is a contestant on this years SCD.

[AlwaysDancing1234]

Hoorah! I bloody love Strictly and it's the only good thing about longer colder nights!
Every single year I apply for tickets but never got one so if anyone knows a way...

[SheHasAWildHeart]

Never have any luck with tickets either :(
I was hoping that this would be the year that Len retires but doesn't seem like it.

[SheHasAWildHeart]

No No Nooooooooooooooooooooooo! Gleb isn't returning for this series


We're dusting off our dancing shoes to reveal our professional dancer line up for 2016 which includes three brand new dancers alongside the return of viewers’ favourites.

New to the fold are world-class Latin and Ballroom dance experts - World Champion Katya Jones, Ukrainian Champion Oksana Platero and top Spanish dance professional Gorka Marquez.

Returning to the Strictly dance floor are our male dancers, Anton du Beke, Brendan Cole, Kevin Clifton, Pasha Kovalev, Aljaž Škorjanec, Giovanni Pernice; and fabulous female dancers are Karen Clifton, Natalie Lowe, Joanne Clifton, Janette Manrara and Oti Mabuse.

Strictly extends its thanks to Tristan MacManus and also to Aliona Vilani, Kristina Rihanoff, Ola Jordan who announced at the end of last series that they wouldn’t be returning to the show, and finally to Gleb Savchenko who has decided that due to family commitments he will not be appearing in the next series.

Gleb said: “I thoroughly enjoyed taking part on the last series of Strictly Come Dancing and especially the way that the UK gave me such a warm welcome but due to family commitments I won't be returning to the show for the next series - I'll definitely be tuning in though.”

www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/entries/f245a196-3e06-4dd4-bdc7-a9de97ff0226

[LunaLoveg00d]

Gutted that Gleb isn't back. I met Aljaz and Janette in April and quizzed them about Strictly and they were giving nothing away - at that stage they hadn't been formally asked to return. (They are both lovely btw, Janette is absolutely tiny and Aljaz is super friendly and chatty).

No surprise that Kristina isn't back as she's pregnant, and Ola was on borrowed time since her husband quit. Very glad that Joanne Clifton is back, she was great with Scott Mills and was very good on the tour too.

Angelica Bell might be very good, not so sure about Robert Rinder...

[LunaLoveg00d]

Also meant to add that Aljaz was adamant that the dancers are not told about who is dancing celebrity-wise and only find out at the same time as everyone else. Matching of celebs/dancers is done by the producers, and is based on height and age more than anything else. The dancers get no say in it at all.

[mouldycheesefan]

Tom Daley would be good. And is an Olympian.

[ppeatfruit]

Oh don't, it makes me think that autumn is on its way (I love SCD btw) but nooooooooo!!

Good news about Gleb though because I reckoned Anita might have won without his me,me,me, mentality

[SheHasAWildHeart]

Tom Daley would be great, but I don't know when they'd "risk" having him on in case he injures himself, I think any sportspeople they have on will be ones that have retired.

[SheHasAWildHeart]

I'm already missing Tristran's twinkly smile and his whole "it's only dancing!" attitude,

[mouldycheesefan]

Louis smith won it and then returned to gymnastics.

[SheHasAWildHeart]

Did he? Oh that's interesting then. They always have a sportsperson, a newsreader and a soap star.

[LunaLoveg00d]

I think Steph who does the business news on Breakfast will do it. Either her, or Naga. Someone from EastEnders usually - probably a man this year. Maybe the guy who plays Vincent? A youngster who has recently left Corrie/Hollyoaks.

[Queenbean]

Watching!

How do you apply for Strictly tickets?

[ppeatfruit]

I just heard on R2 that Gleb is stepping out to preserve his marriage.

You go online to get the tickets, the requests are put in a hat (unless you're celeb or relative of course ).

[SheHasAWildHeart]

I just heard on R2 that Gleb is stepping out to preserve his marriage.
I think that's probably correct, a quick look on his Twitter shows that he's got a lot of other work going on so I doubt whether the scrutiny from SCD is worth it.

[SheHasAWildHeart]

Whitmore, I'm a Celebrity presenter, is second celeb to be announced [[https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/1358828/laura-whitmore-signs-up-for-strictly-come-dancing/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter]]

[SheHasAWildHeart]

Sorry messed up the link

[blueskyinmarch]

Woohoo. I love Strictly. Sad that some of the oldies are going but i also like new blood. It keeps the show interesting. I will keep an eye open for any hints or leaks about the celebrity dancers.

[ppeatfruit]

Chris Evans on Radio 2 has started mentioning SCD now bluesky. He also interviews the contestants\and pros. when it's on.