Even more new Strictly Pros!

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Here

I noticed Emma Slater's gone (perhaps they realised she was British!).

Fifteen seems an odd number though, I like equal numbers of men and women. And I suppose a pro will be left without a partner for group dances. I think it might be Anton, but I was hoping he'd be put with Iveta, and we'd get some ballroom for once.

I'm getting excited now, I've had my e-mail about applying for tickets for the launch shows

(Oh, and for anybody who dances and is after some new shoes, the IDS sale has just started.)

I have to say I'm an Anton fan. My dance teacher knew him when he first turned professional and he came along to her old dance school as a guest teacher for the "summer school" children. She said he's lovely and great with kids, she said if he'd taken up dancing at a younger age he could have been a world champion.

I'm surprised to see Abby Clancy in there. She's more of a Dancing on Ice calibre celeb than a SCD one. They must have been really stuck.

I don't get the issue with abbey Clancy being there, she is a model, stems from BNTM although she didn't win it, came runner up I think.

Underwhelmed by a few find feltz and fern pretty bland and boring but maybe they will be good dancers!

Bloody love Darren from Hollyoaks - and Strictly too...

Ooh - am very excited

I'm also a bit [c

I think Deborah Meaden from Dragons' Den will be the one to watch. From what I remember she carries herself well and did ballroom classes as a child.

Phone fail.
Meant to say I'm confused about all the Abby Clancy comments too. She has a career, she's a model.

I'll reserve judgement until Saturday and the group dance (although what's the betting they say Patrick Robinson has "natural rhythm"?).

This is irritating me now. I wanted to nose at their competitive records, and am struggling to find anything!

Whose competitive records polka? Pros or celebs? Apparently Natalie Gumede is quite an accomplished Latin dancer already..hoping Brendan gets her! (no spoilers if you know please, as it was filmed last night!)
I've met Anton at a workshop a few years ago he was sooo lovely & a really good teacher, but I do agree it's definitely time for him to leave the show - he's just become a bit of a caricature of himself, talks too much etc. I also think Brucie & Tess need to go, & be replaced by Graham Norton & Claudia Winkleman..but I think I can dream on there!!

The pros really. I was wanting to compare them to the first few series.

I think the pro dancers aren't as good as they used to be, but then I'd heard of the old lot a lot more (Paul Killick and Hanna Kartunnen, Hazel Newberry etc) so I want to see if I'm just being unfair and their competition records are actually similar.

Anybody else watching the red carpet launch?

I'm watching.
Lisa Riley is a bit annoying.

I like the look of the new pros. Artem might have to share my affection this year. Of course he'll be devasted.

In case anyone is planning to buy tickets for Strictly Live Tour next year, priority booking is now available for some venues, ahead of general sale on Monday...

Is Vanessa Feltz still a size 12?

I bought my tickets yesterday for the Live Tour :-)

Wow Nosey you managed to get them really early!

Is everybody ready for tonight?

Yup! I have wine and chocolate, I'm good to go.

I'm ready, are we posting here or is there a new thread?

I haven't seen a new thread anywhere. We could always carry on on this one for the minute and have a new one when the live shows start?

Am very excited, particularly as Deborah Meaden lives near me. I'm not sure how long she will last, time will tell!

I'm happy to keep posting in here, just wasn't sure if there was another one planned - don't want to miss out!

I can't wait , have dinner over and done with it early, showers and pjs all sorted, so just sitting waiting for it to start.