SCD 2024 #2 : First slebs announced, warm up continues - No Spoilers Please (added by MNHQ at request of the OP)

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

KEEP DANCING EVERYONE

Hopefully this thread will see some closure to the unpleasantness in the form of findings; as well as the build up to the beginning.

Emily Campbell is ace. She got silver in Tokyo.

Yes, in fact I was much more aware of her than I was Tom Dean and Montell. She's been on telly quite a bit. She gives the impression she'd be a lot more comfortable with the showmanship side of Strictly than a lot of sportspeople. Sign her next year. (And Lutalo and Max Whitlock).

The last 3 celebrities are going to be announced on The One Show tonight

Emily is a character! She’d be great.

I've wanted Emily to do it since her silver in Tokyo - she'd be amazing!

Nick Knowles announced as the 13th contestant.

He doesn't look that excited!

Paul Merson also announced

I find Nick Knowles extremely annoying. Don't know anything about Paul Merson.

Hope the final announcement is a woman.

And Sam Quek

Seems The Sun list was right.

Sam Quek is a force of nature she’s gonna be excellent.

I love Sam Quek! Yay.

She and Sarah Hadland are my pre-comp favourites.

Nick and Paul made me laugh on the One Show - they were just like two middle aged men down the pub who were about to get dragged up onto a dance floor but can't dance a step.

Finding it hard to be excited about anyone. Paul Merson seems like a bad choice. He got bammes from driving for speeding just a couple of months ago.

Too many Men!!! Jesus Christ! 9 of them!

Merse is a terrible choice. I keep thinking about Richard Osman ‘s perspective that they keep going for “vulnerable” contestants and then wondering why it all went fucking tits up. Merse is a classic vulnerable person, a gambling alcoholic who I believe has a history of DV and also lost his son’s house deposit through gambling lockdown.

I'm quite excited about Sam Quek, and hope she stays in for the long haul.

Now that the complete list has been confirmed, I do agree that 9 men to 6 women is far too high a ratio of male to female.

Just caught up.

Meh.

My pre-launch favourite is the swimmer but I often end up favouring folk I’d never heard of prior. Hamza, Helen Skelton, Susanna Reid, Jay, Rose.

The recent exception being Annabel, who was my favourite last year from launch to beyond Blackpool. No wavering!

So who’s going to be partnered with who. 🤔

They need to refresh the casting director. She hasn't come across well in interviews and in the Will Bailey saga, and not bothering to book women but signing a domestic abuser with still extant addiction problems is a terrible look. The show has a duty of care to staff and pros, too.

That’s a very weird balance. Do you think women have been put off by Amanda’s experience?

I’m going Jay Borthwick as an early favourite. I had a quite inappropriate crush on him in my early 20s when he was probably still in his teens 😬

Short and sweet 😂.

I’ve heard complaints about her before, I can’t remember what exactly, but regarding the appropriateness of her bookings.

My favourites at the moment are Toyah, Sarah and Jamie. But I’m sure I’ll tweak it a bit when I see everyone move and I get to know the ones I’m not so familiar with.