Strictly

[ppeatfruit]

Anyone interested in bitching chatting about the new one , I know a bit of old goss. but someone must know more

Shana's (she is still a pro on DWTS so maybe had an advantage)

I am not bothered about it tbh - like the 'thons' it won't make a huge difference really. Motsi's and Shirley's will be latin (?) Bruno's will be same sexy and Craig's - as long as it's not Annie I'll be open-minded!

Ah, just checked - they also did do the 4 coaches/4 couples (coaching one dance per couple concept) in the semis (season 24) so could do either approach. As long as I don't have to see Craig in drag again, I'll cope -that said, he'd be a shoo-in for mentoring Michelle Visage if she makes it to the later stages.

Also, OP you mentioned drag contestants and a pp mentioned Courtney Act - they came 2nd on the Oz version. They were paired with a male pro so could perform as their persona.
All dances here. Enjoy!

Courtney Act was fab-u-lous just to be clear (I would love a drag contestant or same sex partnership like they did in Italy) I just hate Annie with a passion

Dev Griffin has been announced. I have a feeling that he could be a ringer.

Still no idea on anyone but Mike "fell-in-the-pool" Bushell.
I'm a failure, aren't I?

Dev was on Celebrity Masterchef. I quite liked him.

Nah fuzzy 1/13 is same as my DH and I love him.

What's interesting is that there are still some more famous slebs who haven't done it who hinted they would like to (Scarlett Moffatt ringah ringer chicken dinner, LeefromSteps, Tamara Ecclestone, Deborah James, Bez, Leonie Elliott, Sarah Hadland) Only 2 of them I hadn't heard of but I don't envy Stefania's job - it's a balancing act when some will demand a larger fee than others.
I reckon David probably got one of the bigger fees this year.
Then there's getting the mix right. This year we have...
4 sport
2 soap
1 youtuber
1 DJ
3 presenters
2 tv personalities
1 comedian
1 aristo/model
from 19 to 60, half of whom are in their thirties.
7 women 8 men
There are 7 male pros not including Neil/Johannes
There are 7 female pros not including Luba/Nancy

It will be really interesting who gets benched this year.

Mike Bushell - so bloody BBC

Ooh my gaydar is maybe not so broken after all - Curtis Pritchard is bisexual acc to guardian.

It will be really interesting who gets benched this year.

Tabloid gossip would have us believe Katya is being benched after last year's shennanigans, and that Neil will finally have a pro. He'd be a great partner for someone like Alex Scott, I think.

I'd be surprised if they do bench Katya as she's always been a pretty high-profile pro, but they must have been pissed off by the Seann thing last year.

I'd bench Graziano - he was decidedly underwhelming last year. They won't bench Gorka/Giovanni/Aljaz after their tour which really raised their profiles among the Strictly fanbase, I reckon. Anton will still be dancing when he's Brucie's age...and everyone seems to like AJ (a LOT more than I do).

Can't believe the one I was struggling to remember was Kevin! I feel like the mum in Home Alone 😂

Thanks so much Rage So they MIGHT do the training, it would be good because then we'd not have those awful "got to fill in the gaps with something" VTs , they come over as fake and desperate.

Also for that masterly list

I won't miss big head Katya AT ALL. She so "me me me" in her choroegraphy , bleurgh (shudders) at the thought of her dragging her poor partners around the place.

I really hope Neil is a proper pro this year, he's funny and a bloody good dancer. Love Luba too, so good looking and talented

Oooh did anyone see a repeat of Celebrity Eggheads yesterday? It had Karen and Kevin SHARING; being one person!!!!! (How long ago was that ???? ) Also Robin, that guy with one leg who won the layman's Strictly ( he's cute), a young boxer who had only been in it for short while. I can't remember who else but the only female was Karen which was odd.

James Cracknell has been confirmed now, is Oti the tallest female dancer ATM?

I did wonder if Nancy was a replacement for Katya rather than Pasha, as they are always matched (with partners) on height - do we know how tall Nancy is?

Nadiya is taller than Oti by quite a lot. Oti just looks tall because of her presence (and legs). She is apparently 163cm. Nadiya is 172cm.

JAMES CRACKNELL! I Have heard of him.
That's two then.
And thanks Rage for validating my sleb uselessness!

Luba hasn't had a partner and I think she might be taller than Nadia. I'd love to see her partnered as she always looks so fantastic when she dances with Gio or Johannes.

Is there 15 contestants this year? So only one left to be announced?

Luba would be good with the very tall goalie guy, though I don't reckon he's much of dancer, shame if they don't last long.

The internet is useless. Get rid of it immediately. I cannot find Luba's height.

I know who 5 are. Not too bad.

I know one (Dev, but only from Masterchef) and have heard of two others (Vicountess Weymouth and James Cracknell). That's it.

~polishes Dirty Furriner halo~

Looking at the BBC strictly page, there is only one left to be announced.

I know - or have at least heard of - 7, so not too bad.