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?

Cat Deeley does So You Think You Can Dance in the US - she's really good.

not fearne cotton. no.

fern b is a bit needy these days, isn't she? and is no one going to point out that she's whacked a fair bit of that weight back on?

Didn't Cat Deeley present the tour one year? (I might have completely made that up.)

I think Lisa Snowden might be quite good...although you'd have the "I've been here, I know what it's like..." which I found a bit wearing with Alesha. Still, it might not be as bad if it's the presenter saying it. Thinking about it, Alesha might have been quite a good presenter.

Does anyone know how you can get tickets to the live shows?? Like hen's teeth I imagine... Booked up months in advance??
I still think Karen Hardy would make a good judge-but don't they like her or something??

Interview with Tess in todays Daily Mirror " Strictly is a job that I love and could never leave..... Its genuinely never about the money for me."

Heres hoping the bbc call her bluff!

Outofnappies - you have to apply for tickets through the website, the closing date was last week

They are doing the wembley show again but tickets aren't on sale yet. Google BBC tickets.

Louis and Flavia in training

Richard and Erin's training video is on the BBC SCD site, as is Kimberley and Pasha's.

Just under three weeks to go!

I Want it on now

I like Louis already.

Aitch, I was thinking that too - or could it be the fringed dress was a bit unforgiving?
I sometimes think wardrobe are a bit mean to celebs.

Did anyone catch Zoe Ball interviewing her dad on Radio 2 yesterday? V sweet

i should say for the record, though, that she looks prettier now than she did when she got thinner. those of us with elderly chops need a bit of plump under there, i think. she's looking lovely in the training vid with artem.

I wish it would just start, I want to enter into the lovely Strictly world with It Takes Two and all the gossip!

Lots of pics and chat in next week's Radio Times if you can't wait - including a rather pointed comment from Kristyna that Colin is a dream contestant "musical, theatrical and charismatic" (emphasis mine ).

Can't they just put her on the rack and stretch her 6 inches? Because they're going to look crap with a height difference of 14 inches .

You know you've been watching Strictly too long when you can predict the judges' responses?

On Colin: something along the lines of 'Just because you're taller than Kristina doesn't mean you shouldn't stand up straight' (and, how terrible are they going to look side-by-side in e.g. a jive?!
On Tracy Beaker: 'Bubbly, bouncy ball of energy' (because she's short, did you know?)

Craig on anyone doing a ballroom early on: 'You could drive a bus through that gap darling'

And for Colin and Michael (and Jerry) I would guess "Well, the jive/rumba/whatevertheyjustmessedup is a very hard dance for a tall person to do."

Sorry Pan, it's just been tweeted that Aliona is out if the first live show with a hairline fracture - anything to get out of dancing with Jonny

I just saw that...who do you think they'll get to dance with him instead? The only 'spare' pro female who's still around is Karen and she's doing red button isn't she?

Breaking news that Aliona is broken. Bring back Lilia.

Please.

That is all.

Just saw the Colin Salmon teaser trailer this evening on tv. My, he does have charisma!!

Would it be too cynical to suggest that Aliona would have found a way to struggle on if she'd been partnered with Harry/Matt?

Much too cynical. Dance on a broken ankle?

I have a friend who competed with three broken toes (I'm not saying it was a good idea!) but he could have time off afterwards whereas she'll be constantly dancing on it.

It's only a hairline fracture though so will probably heal quite quickly.

Sorry, the point of that was to say if it's not too painful and it had been the final I think she probably would have danced on it, but week one? Not worth doing any further damage especially as there'd be no time to rest it afterwards.

and and