Is there a Strictly 2018 thread yet?

[xsquared]

Lots of rumours of who is going to be on but none confirmed as far as I know.

I know what Cherrypi means - in the categories Strictly selects from (soap, sport, presenters, boy/girl band members, etc), they've definitely had more high profile examples in previous years than they’ve managed to get this year.

Actor Charles Venn is the last name. Never heard of him, or half of the others. Disappointing line up this year.

It looks like all the male pros will get a partner as there are 9 female contestants. I wonder which female pros won’t get a partner. My money is on Karen on being one of them.

Sorry, 7 male contestants and 8 females. Still, one male and one female pro will sit out.

Venn is styled like a Poundland Idris Elba. Seems nice enough - he’s like most of the soap actors over the years, properly famous if you watch the show(s) in question but unknown if you don’t. See also Chizzy, Danny Mac, Ricky Whittle, Jill H (at the time), Patrick Robinson (he gets a bit forgotten but he was so good in SCD, check him out on YouTube to remind yourself) and a whole string of others who I’d never heard of. I only knew Joe from last year because I remember The Crow Road.

Charles Venn also had a walk on role as a fireman in Miranda, and I happened to watch that very episode last night so I'm very pleased with him.

I have heard of 6 of the 15. Is this a record?

I think if you’d heard of absolutely all of the lineup (any year) I’d probably worry about your life-balance.

It’s designed with the hope that everyone will say “Ooh!” about at least one contestant and be familiar with a handful more. The format does the rest.

I remembered Joe from Heartbeat, so all the Holby City/doctor stuff was a bit lost on me.

(I also sat behind him at Burn the Floor in Edinburgh last week. I kind of wish I'd asked him for a picture, my grandma and DM would have loved it!)

Patrick Robinson was awesome with Anya, loved that Hollywood-style number they did!

I like this low key line up. I will start with no expectations of any of them and slowly get to know them and build up their characters until I have my favourites. Looking forward to it.

People moaned about the line up last year as well, and the year before. I don't think there's have ever been any A listers on Strictly. Your never going to get people like Angelina Jolie are you?

I agree they have never had A-list stars, but it would be nice to have heard of at least half of them.

I wasn’t moaning about the line up. I was amazed at my out of touchness!

My ds says that Joe Sugg is an inspired choice- it’ll bring in even more tweenage girls.

QLS Yes she has lost lots of weight - I hadn't realised. Good for her. Maybe she's no longer double bra-ing then.
Chucky Venn? Not one I know but then again, I'd never heard of Patrick Robinson either.

I knew 6/15 this year - by know I mean not having to google.

No A-listers ever in 14 years. One of the most famous they ever had Martina Hingis went out week one. Jerry Hall week 2. Emma Bunton's gone the furthest.
It will still be a decent series with good ratings.

You’re never going to have heard of every single celebrity there is. Last year, I could only identify 4 and the previous year only 3.

I still watched and enjoyed them.

I know (of) 8 of the 15. I think that's the most I've ever known!

I'm really looking forward to the show starting. Just need MasterChef to come back on and I'll be set.

Didn’t they have Michelle Williams from Destiny's Child one year? I would say she was fairly A list at the time. I didn’t watch the series then, but watching some old clips on YouTube, she wasn’t that great a dancer.

Well, that depends... Most would say Bey, Kelly...and the other one
She was....somewhat erratic

I knew them all last year but that was the first time that had happened. It should be good for the group dynamic with there be no standout more famous person.

It depends how you define it I suppose. I'd say there have been a few household names, if not quite A list.

As soon as I saw Susannah's name I thought 'there's Anton sorted then'. I'm sure I wasn't the only one.

Manic, I reckon Kate will get Anton.

Karen needs to get someone rubbish and go early as well, preferably never to return. Cant believe her brass neck.