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?

Love your name Castiels. Totally agree about Claudia. She is one of my fantasy best friends, the other being Sue Perkins.

Claudia and Victoria Coren are bezzie mates. Love them both.

Natcat, Claudia will be doing the Sunday nights result show won't she? I am sure I read she was?!

My dance teacher has just put this video up on her Facebook page, both featuring Michael Malitowski and Joanna Leunis, who have guest starred on Strictly in the past:

She also linked to one titled "Malitowski & Leunis - Rumba without limits" but I can't view it on my iPad for some reason.

If that Rumba video I mentioned in my last post is anything like , I'm sure it is a-maz-ing dahhhling

The way Joanna Leunis moves is spell-binding, the contraction through her spine and speed of her spins. Just wow!

I watched most of the early series of Strictly, my favourite was def series 4 with Mark totally hot Rampy, but I haven't seen the last 2 years. So am back with renewed interest and think the line up this year is a great mix with some really good potential. Am also quite taken with Artem, Pascha and Robin ..... And Louis ..... And Colin ..... C'mon October !!

i must say, for the most part actual ballroom dancing bores the tits off me. i just like the celebs. that joanna whoever dancing actually makes me slightly nauseous.

Oh yes I will add my name to the chorus of "BBC please retire Bruce" I've been saying it since about series 3 .....

I would love to see Clare Balding (warm sympathy that Tess still can't fake years down the line) and someone actually FUNNY who doesn't have to read off cue cards (Adam Hills?) be the presenters.

Personally I would say that DvO's biggest claim to fame was as Jay Kay from Jamiriquai's girlfriend. He wrote some pretty scathing lyrics about their relationship, along with some rather unpleasant slurs in interviews.

well the thing about DVO is that her genuine acting/singing/dancing chops come from her musicals career. which is why i don't understand how she can say that she isn't a dancer.

Frankel wasn't that entrance just breath-taking?

I forgot she was engaged to Jamiroquai. They were well suited

arf

What were the lyrics saying? I might have to have a google

Pan, I think that entrance was straight out of the book "How to Intimidate Your Competitors"!

I know Joanna Leunis' style is not to everyone's taste, but I find her captivating. She's found a way of adding her own individuality into the pretty fixed world of ballroom and latin.

Jay Kay was a coke addict for several years apparently after the split with DVO, so I would put anything he wrote after then in that context, to be fair.

Sometimes I think Brucie died years ago, and the BBC have just reanimated him for the purposes of light entertainment.

But he's not half as annoying as Dead Eyes Tess. I also feel like she's a Northern Faker. Or at least, a Northern Exaggerator. I want to interrogate her on her Northern authenticity.

Claudia all the way - love Claudia! And whoever suggested Clare Balding to present - yes! Let's start a petition.

Sadly Clare's weekends will be full from 1st January onwards as she will be heading Channel 4's racing coverage. She said in an interview a few months ago that both she and Willie were offered Strictly but she turned it down.

Hi - can I join in this year please?!

I agree re Bruce and Tess - been waiting for someone to get rid of them for years but no joy! I also have a big girl crush on Claudia (and Flavia) and am very sad she's not doing ITT again this year but Zoe did a pretty good job of it last year so I'll cope!

I love the line up this year and think there will some great dancers amongst them. Will be interested to see how VP shapes up and how she copes mentally - think she's a bit flaky so Brendan will have to be his nice supportive persona rather than his dismissive, grumpy one to get her through. Hope she's good though.

DVO could be annoying but we'll see. I would love to have seen smug James J's face if he had got Lisa - he's so arrogant. Robin is LOVELY though and I bet they have a laugh.

It's all about the relationships for me and who comes to love it and improve loads etc so can't wait for it to get started now! That's why I love ITT too (almost as much as the main show) because you see more of the couples and how they really get on.......

That's my four penneth. Thanks for letting me share

I'm so cross they've given Colin Kristina. She must be one of the shortest female dancers - surely that height difference will be a big hindrence when dancing? There are quite afew tallish dancers he could have had - Natalie, Erin.....I just can't see that pairing working, sadly

I also wondered about the Colin Kristina height thing.

Fair enough Natalie being partnered with Matthew Vaughan as he is also v tall, but the new dancer Karen, Alionia and Erin are all taller than Kristina.

And I miss Katja, who had a lot more wit and spark about her than some of the others

I predict that Victoria P will burst into tears a lot, with Brendan cast as alternating between Evil Wicked Bully and Concerned Big Brother. He is one of my least favourite of the SCD pros now.

Denise will be unpopular with the public voters, due to her perceived unfair advantage.

Dani will be good, but not as popular with the voters, as the age demographic isn't quite right, and there are quite a few Tracy Beaker-hating mums watching out there.

Johnny will give one good performance in a Ballroom dance, then get voted off the next week for trying to do Latin.

Katya never seemed very comfortable, somehow. Was never that keen myself, she always dour and grumpy when she thought the camera wasn't on her.

Perhaps Kristina got Colin as she got Jason last year who was one of the favourites. Unless I'm way out, Colin is probably going to be voted out mid series. Aliona got Johnny as she won last time.

Brendan was a lot better last series, much calmer & even his choreography was improved. James Jordan was the most irritating one for me. I'd like to swap James & Ola for Darren & Lilia, & Brendan for Ian Waite.

I don't know if someone has already said this but it will be quite sweet seeing Zoe Ball interview her dad on ITT