Strictly Pro Dancers have been announced

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

Eight female, seven male this year. I prefer equal, but never mind!

Ladies: Ola, Iveta, Aliona, Janette, Natalie, Kristina and Joanne Clifton.

Men: Kevin, Anton, Brendan, Robin, Aljaž, Pasha and Tristan MacManus.

We've lost James, Artem and Anya.

I'm excited about Joanne, she's an amazing ballroom dancer.

whats happened with Vincente? he was annoying but funny. no Vincey this year?

Vincent and Flavia left (by choice) to focus on their stage show - dance til dawn.
I don't blame them-they earn a lot more money that way and dancers don't have a long time to make money out of their career. SCD doesn't pay that well (I believe) so I suppose it is a good way to establish your 'name/brand' then try and look for other ways of making money. Like Ola's calendars!

Still gutted about Artem though!

Their stage show is very good, I really enjoyed it.

I am glad Artem has gone, for starters his pecs are wierd looking and make me feel a bit ill! Also I have it on good authority that he refused to dance with a partner who wasn't young and experienced (ie had a reasonable chance of winning). I believe they should all take their turn with less trained partners as this really shows their skill in teaching and choreography.

I think James was past his best - I wonder what the deal is with Ola coming back and not him?
Brendon and Anton should have rehomed with Brucie somewhere

Glad Natalie is back this year, she's really grown on me through the years. And I think if Karen can deal with a Hairy Biker, she deserves a proper chance this time around!

Is that true, Yourfrench? But he was so sweet with Fern Britton.

I'll miss him and his choreography. I'm glad James has gone – all ego and no trousers. Wish Brendan had been put out to grass –his gushing over Sophie last year was sick-making.

I could do without Anton too, but the nans love him too much.

Aliona is a crap choreographer and permanently has a face like a wet weekend. The ONLY reason she's back must be that her agent had them over a barrel last year.

I'm still bitter about Ian not being in it as well.

Karen had Nicky from Westlife in her first year, who looked like a good bet on paper shame he was a bit hopeless.

I wonder if Ola re-signed before she knew James hadn't been asked?

Well remembered pilka!
She obviously didn't make much of an impact on me, I don't remember her at all pre-hairy Dave

pOlka

Hmm. I think my Dream Team would have to include Ian Waite, Artem, Matthew Cutler, Flavia, Camilla Dallerup and Lilia Kopylova. They keep replacing the interesting ones and throwing in some very weird ones!

Onlylovers, my dbro works on strictly (no more info I'm afraid!) and he says that he wasn't actually that sweet to Fern and he then refused to dance with anyone not under 30
I would agree with all above, bring back Ian! Lets start a mumsnet campaign!

[gutted] Yourfrench.

I'm glad he's gone then.

YES! Bring back Ian Waite!

No artem what I need a hug

Why no james ? Still gutted

I'll sign the Bring Back Ian petition too! Thank god he's still on ITT

So glad James has gone, but I wish he'd taken gurning Ola with him.

Not too fussed about Artem, but so glad the delightful Pasha is back again.

So sad about Artemis going, he is so pretty. Have he and Kara really split? :-(

I'm glad James has gone, his ego and fawning over the slebs was awful. Wish anton would leave too.

Since you all like ballroom, could you possibly have a look at my thread about raising money for a friend's university society? Thank you

And here's Monkseal on the new professionals, if you've missed it/