Strictly fans over here!!

[FamiliesShareGerms]

who do we think will be the early favourites? Who will get to the grand finale? Who will turn most orange?

It's starting now and I am very excited...!

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I do like Chalky and Dave the hairy biker, but I am not sure they are going to be in long. Anton deserved to get the best of the women, after Ann Widdicombe.

[MaryAnnSingleton]

Corrie girl will be good, am a bit alarmed by Vanessa.

[CeliaFate]

Marking my place till I catch up.

[FrankelInFoal]

I'm not an Aliona fan

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Karen Hardy you mean? Not the new one, I thought she was a show-off. Her fiancé looks nice and smiley though.

The only ones I'd have done the other way around were Iveta and Kristina, because the heights are a bit out. Not as bad as last year though, so I'll let it slide.

[forehead]

Natalie Gumede- the Corrie girl will do well

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Flavia always seems to get the best from her partner (as did Lilia).

Karen Hardy and Erin are both on my Irrational Dislike list. Rachel .Riley might be joining that list on the early showing.

I think Fiona F might do rather well until about half way when the difficulty level jumps up and the real contenders start to show.

[skaen]

I saw the line up of slebs and was a bit disappointed - now I've seen the show I'm all keen again! Hate Brucie, like the Hollyoaks guy and Ben Cohen . The new dancer dancing with the guy from Waterloo road look just like DD's Barbie.

I hope Sophie EB does okay.

[ItsaTIARA]

Just caught up with the group dance. Rachel better than I'd feared, Dave even worse. Fiona very good - perhaps in the Pamela/Cherie league. Suzanne looked extremely ropey.

I didn't see much of Mark - possibly they're saving him up for a big surprise "Ooh, gawp at the dancing fatty!" like Lisa's first week ..... or maybe he's crap.

[strokethecat]

Sophie Ellis to go first - she once said on radio, when told Meatloaf was the next guest up, 'Meatloaf? Who is he exactly? He can't even sing.'
Uhhh, 'Murder on the dance floor, blah, blah, oh and la la...'
Yeah, that's a song right there. Blinding lyrics. Well done.
She was on with Steve Wright and he sort of coughed a little and said, 'Moving along then...' Don;t think he knew what to say tbh.

I can not forgive her for her slating of Meat, no matter what your preference in music is, you can not deny, Meat has a voice, a talent. No need to be a bitch - so, Ellis off first.

[SuperiorCat]

Really sad that so many good professional dancers have gone this year.

A fair few friends went to school with Ben and he lives a few villages away so I'm supporting him not just because he is swoonsome

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Sophie's good at strutting, didn't really see her in the group dance tbh.

Apparently, really good models use the proper walks you do in Latin (or something very like them) on the catwalk, so I'm expecting Abby Clancy's rumba to be good!

[FrankelInFoal]

Yup, I meant Karen Hardy. She was/is a fabulous dancer and her choreography was always top notch. I maintain her AT with Ramps was the best dance ever seen on Strictly, along with Jill and Darren's Jive.

The combination of choreography, music and atmosphere meant the dance just smouldered. If it was any hotter they would have combusted!

[SuperiorCat]

YY Frankel considering how shy Ramps was supposedly it was super hot

[FrankelInFoal]

Thing is, if you compare all the 10s they hand out in recent series' most of them can't hold a candle to that AT or Jive.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Frankel, I agree Karen and Ramps ATango was one of the all time top dances. Almost embarrassing to watch it was so hot!

[Crutchlow35]

I still think Karen should be a judge. I also don't think there has been a better couple than Karen and mark.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Grade inflation, Frankel. Not like back in the day

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Oh, it was fab. Their salsa was good, but nowhere near that AT, but it's the salsa you usually see.

[Chipstick10]

Can't stand Sophie Ellis and her equally annoying, irritating mum.
I love Vanessa. She has a beautiful way with words. So educated and it shows. She's funny and witty and quick
Like Debra
Hate Anton
Hate James
Miss flav and Vincent

[FrankelInFoal]

Not like when we were young eh Families

[CloudOfStarlings]

Hello Strictly fans :)

I was laughing my head off at the group dance bless them!! Dave looked shocking!! Haha...he's so cute though. I also LOLed at whoever said vanessa is like Armoir from beauty & the Beast - spot on

I miss Karen Hardy she was amazing - and totally agree she should've been a judge. there was a big twitter campaign to get her on there as a judge last year but sadly we got darcey instead...who I don't mind but Karen has such better insights into the dancing (her comments on It Takes Two are amazing!)

Can't stand james Jordan and giggled to myself about him getting Vanessa, she'll drive him crazy

Early favourites- Brendan & Sophie (I'm a huge Brendan fan ) Deborah & Robin, Kristina & Ben...loads of exciting pairings!

[CloudOfStarlings]

Ooh I think Fiona Fullerton will be like Felicity Kendal - so elegant and glamorous but whoever said that halfway through she'll be out of her depth was right! But even making 2 or 3 weeks will be a big achievement for Anton

[thenightsky]

I can not forgive her for her slating of Meat

^^ this