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.

It was utterly dire. I hope Shayne can dance better than he acts.

I don't get why Shayne Ward is scraping the barrell as he was in Corrie and another TV show and is a Singer too..definitely more credentials than a lot of Contestants!

I have no idea if Sarah Hadland is straight or gay?

That's true, a quick Google suggests that her private life is an enigma so she might easily be gay.

I am having to do a lot of Googling! I think Strictly is the only reality show I want. Except for the Traitors.

I have to say I do think it's a fairly weak crop but again what matters is the dancing.

Very happy about Shayne. We loved TGSM and it's been commissioned for two more series!!

I don't think we've ever had an East Asian contestant have we?

I don't think we have, which is quite surprising actually!

I thought (half remembered from my S Club fan days!) Rachel Stevens has some East Asian heritage, but I can't find anything with a quick Google — it might be through her father she's estranged from. It doesn't look like she mentions it if she does.

Yes I thought the same, but also couldn't confirm my recollection on a quick google.

Totally agree.

I'm excited about Toyah, Chris and Sarah so far, which is a pretty good hit rate.

Pleased Sarah Hadland’s doing it. I like her. I wonder if she will be paired with Gorka as I think he’s the shortest male pro.

1. Chris (47) 5"6 (?) Dianne (35) 5"3
2. JB (37) 5"8 Jowita (29) 5"
3. Wynne (52) 5"10 (?) Amy (33) 5"7
4. Toyah (66) 5"1 Gorka (33) 5"6
5. Punam (41) 5"3 (?) Carlos (31?) 5"8
6. Pete (35) 5"9 Katya (35) 5"5
7. Tasha (26) 5"8 Kai (28) 6"2
8. Sarah (53) 5"1 Vito (31) 5"11(??)*
9. Shayne (39) 5"9 Lauren (33) 5"6

*I didn't realise Vito was as tall as that. His wiki says 6ft. Ellie was 5ft and I didn't notice a significant height difference.

Many people appear to be B-list booing but I recognised 6/9 I'm clearly the demographic

Looking forward to seeing Shayne Ward, I loved TGSM!

Seems so. Still adore Monkseal. Here's what he wrote back in May about whether the furore would impact signings.

"Ultimately, the show can point to all of the following from last series to persuade people to sign up -

Ellie & Vito - best friends for life, won Strictly, she's now touring with Cluedo 2 : Look Who's Cluedo'ing Now
Layton & Nikita - best friends and business partners and victims of Internet Rule 34 for life, won the tour, he's now the male lead in Cabaret (no Cliff is not the male lead, nobody counts Cliff, nobody cares about Cliff)
Bobby & Dianne - best friends for life, he's now off to Hollywood to win an Oscar (says Anton, and why would Anton lie?)
Annabel & Johannes - he healed her grief via the power of gay, she's probably doubled her ask of Amazon Prime Tennis
Nigel & Katya - best friends for life, did it do much for his career, who knows, let's ask when the painkillers run out
AngelaS & Carlos - he's become the first man in the UK to be officially adopted as a Nan via paperwork, she'll probably get more presenting work out of it, they usually do
AngelaR & Kai - clearly got on, he can now use that Murder She Wrote outfit for date night with Nadiya if he wants, no judgment
Krishnan & Lauren - clearly got on, he rebranded himself successfully as not just a humourless lefty Channel 4 scold journo.

and plenty of nice pairings in the first half of the cast as well. Regardless of whether this ends with Giovanni as a Bad Man Who Had To Go Away or Amanda as a Mad Cow Who Tried It And Lost, or both, or neither (or it never ends, Fern has claimed more or less exactly the same of Artem that Amanda seems to be of Giovanni, and that's never getting resolved), the show will trundle on. Ending up in a bad partnership with a twat who you hate (pro or celeb variety) is a known risk, and always has been, just like you probably shouldn't go on the show unless you're prepared for the much higher probability of the tabloids fire-hosing you with implications that you're cheating on your wife with your pro. This board jumps to The Day That Strictly Died on the slightest pretext.

(If next series sees less willy-waving about how many hours a day people are forcing themselves to train for though, good)"

God, I miss his recaps.

It was so bad he's just finished another series so he said SO it's back to haunt us Ch5 are obsessed with cruises .

Gorka gets to the final every other year so I hope he does get Sarah. Him and his lovely trousers.

Aljaz also does a lovely white trouser.

More blokes announced.

Strictly Todgers Dancing.

Jamie Borthwick! This has made my year!

I think the crop gets smaller year on year and the world's changed so much that we are going to see Internet personalities and reality stars because that's all that seems to be on TV

Exactly as above, it's been going 20 years, probably running out of options!

I wonder if some people pulled out of this year following all the negative stories? That
May explain the lack of women and younger celebs.

@Mrsjayy

It does occur to me though that NONE of the celebs named would have made the grade or even been on the table as little as 5 years ago.

I really hope that women haven't been put off the show....

Not sure I agree with all.. Toyah Willcox, Jamie Borthwick and Tom Dean would I reckon..the reality stars wouldn't have in the start, but then the demographic has changed somewhat now

Jamie 5"7 (29) can't have Nancy as they won at Xmas so I guess I'll swap with Jowita and have JB with Nancy, as she's also due a good 'un. Dianne plus another Eastender = dull, likewise Amy. Dianne plus JB = dull/predictable. That said, Nancy was paired with Rhys, who also did the street dance stuff.