Strictly Come Dancing '24 Thread 1 : Who will be our celebs and Pros?

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

Starting a new SCD thread for chat prior to the series as the last is about to fill.

These threads are usually helmed by @PolkadotsAndMoonbeams and I normally deputise, but I haven't seen her around in a while

This thread will discuss who has been chosen for the show, but not who has been paired with who as that's a spoiler for the first show.

This is a NO SPOILER thread

Get Ready To KEEP DANCING.

That's alright. I've been monologuing for GB (Olympic gold - me). I'll be less verbose on the next one, promise x

Oh yeah true I’d forgotten about him.

Aw, the Fail "My son was not eating people" There's a headline. Armie Hammer, trying to get un-cancelled.

I remember Craig commenting on the salsa lift where Giovanni’s face was between Amanda’s legs and Amanda looking a bit uncomfortable. Given that we now know that at the time the relationship with Giovanni was already poor, how awful for her to have to do that lift, it was horribly intimate.

What do we think of Ralf Little as a possible signing?
I liked him in Inside no. 9 the referee's a w**r.
It gives Jambo a chance to come and cheer I guess. Danny JJ won't

I am not too young to remember Moonlighting. Used to love it. I'd better not say what it was as I don't think it's known that the two stars had physical fights and were just horrible to work with. It was a crime series, though, and the two stars were male.

I love Inside No.9. As for Ralf, he has made some remarks on the women's rights and trans issue which I haven't really liked. Sort of male who has waded in with his opinions without giving a second thought about what it's like to be a woman. However, I tend not to give too much weight to that stuff when it comes to Strictly. He's a really well-known face on television and I've got a lot of fondness for The Royle Family. I'd hope there was a dance based around him being made to go and make everyone a cup of tea. To be honest, at this stage I'm just grateful when they've signed someone I've actually heard of.

I was/am surprised only in that she was quite effusive in her exit interview and said she wouldn't have got as far as she did without him.
It is an odd one for sure - I kind of respect Lulu more now, for making no bones about the fact she wasn't going to miss Brendan. At the time, I thought, rude sod dancing on her own in the last dance results show. Now I kind of think, girl boss for not going along with the sham (although she was quite rude from the off as she wanted Pasha and did not understand the height mismatch with Brendan).

But yes - once it's all over and you're no longer reliant on votes, what is keeping you from at least showing some relief you're out of it and no longer doing the sofa charade? Is it an unspoken agreement, Stockholm Syndrome or some kind of social etiquette/one last interview to get through for the viewers then I can rant when I get home?

It's going to be very strange this series watching them all. I am looking forward to it - it gets me through Winter - but I can't help but think they'll all have to turn it down a notch for authenticity's sake, surely? Even knowing Krish saw the therapist twice and had a bit of a cry was

The bubble has burst hasn't it? It feels like the whole thing is inauthentic and I feel gullible for believing it in the first place.

They will have to address it on camera first show back I think. They can't pretend it hasn't happened.

OR

A One Show special might do it featuring hosts, judges and dancers

When Claudia first stood in for Bruce her wit and sarcasm, cutting through some of the fluffiness, was what made the public like her. Then she got the gig proper and has to do all the scripted 'Aren't you having the bestest time? Tell me how much you adore your partner?' questions. They're basically prompting people to gush all the time. I don't want a show full of misery and fighting but maybe they could find a way to make it less sugary and more authentic.

Tbh, we always knew or guessed at a lot of the couples who didn't get on but Graziano and Zara was a shock. I never felt any attraction between Ranvir and Giovanni but did think they were at least happy and friendly. It does make you wonder.

To be honest, at this stage I'm just grateful when they've signed someone I've actually heard of.
Same!

Ralf could have Elastica Waking up: "Make a cup of tea! Put a record on!"

I don't watch many crime shows but Data Lounge have a list of feuds so long it makes Strictly look warm and fuzzy.

The producers should take some blame for Laura — it wasn't fair to pair her with Gio just because Georgia was her best friend.

I've noticed Claudia going through the motions the last 3,/ 4 years or it's just become too sickly fake.
I have never believed its one happy family as often said.
It's a very popular TV show on a Saturday night, but I don't think it's all hearts and flowers. As someone said TV looks fun but apparently it's very competitive, bitchy and stressful environment to work in.

I've always felt uneasy about the large amount of people on here and elsewhere that want Strictly to be 100% positive and love and flowers.
Life isn't life that and I much prefer seeing the odd person each year that isn't grinning like a Cheshire cat for 10 weeks etc.
I like seeing warts and all, if possible. Good weeks and bad weeks.

And I think they fell out as a result. It'd be interesting to know the real reason for the fallout

I have always felt uneasy at people who want romance. Posters kept insisting Gio was romancing Rose or Ranvir or even Amanda. It's called acting! And all the pros know how to feign romance.

Yes I think people forget that performing is a form of acting, and they're trying to portray something specific in their dances

The Laila Rouass claim (if she has joined the action) will be interesting, in that Craig in his memoirs implies it wasn't quite as clear-cut as relayed at the time.

I can't see how she would be able to make any claim, given that the limitation period must have expired at least 8 years ago.

I will be very sorry if Strictly is shut down and so many out of work, especially those pros from whom we have not yet seen enough like Lauren, Nikita, Jowita and Kai.

I'd be astounded. The only actual current issues are Graziano and Gio. Anton was a prick but it was ages ago and might not have been as clear as it seemed.
The media are doing everything in their power to bring down the BBC through this. Yet, weeks later, we only have more weight to those two situations. If there was anything else significant, we'd probably know it by now.

She's said on insta she wasn't overworked and Anton made himself available for 6/7 hours a day at her behest and she knew when paired he'd be a safe pair of hands.
Radio silence on the p-word furore. I guess she's making it clear she's never been a complainant.
Interestingly, she is guest appearing in EastEnders from August, so a BBC employee effectively.

I don't think that's interesting at all. I think if she wanted to lodge a complaint re the P word, a guest stint on EE wouldn't be what stopped her doing so.

Really? I wouldn't make a complaint against my current employer unless I had a job to go to, especially if I was hoping that job might be made permanent in the future (but I don't watch EE, I assume it's BBC studios but would imagine casting/storylines are plotted months ahead).
Either way, it appears to be a statement supportive of the Beeb and its processes.

I also do find it interesting that so many contestants are affiliated/work for the BBC as that keeps it all "in house", no? Michelle Visage and Richie Anderson both work for BBC/radio 2 for example. That's surely going to make it harder if you have a grievance, whether there's a whistleblowing dept or not.