Strictly 2026 : It’s Emma, Josh and JoJo

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

First thread of the year! Let us reconvene here for further discussions

As ever I bow to your breadth of knowledge @SequinsandSolerosInTheSummertime

Realistically this year I’ve heard of 5, would consider 3 of them names

James and Ola Jordan have split up

No! Wow!
Did not see that coming. 😳
Thought they were absolutely tight.

Oh no that is such a shame.

Really surprised about James and Ola. Just shows anyone can split up, I spose.

Interestingly, not surprised, James has always been a cock, and they’ve been struggling to stay relevant, fame wise!

I think he's had depression after his dad died a few years back. But dotes on their little girl.
Him and Brenda have a podcast out soon called Manopause 🤦🏻and then five of them have a Legends tour in the Autumn. 🕺🏻
Him and Ola had appeared to be doing okay work wise, though both shed lots of weight in a dance shred thing. Dunno. I am surprised but others aren't as trial separated a while back apparently.
I liked James's choreo and Brenda's ability. And I preferred the days the pros talked back a bit rather than pander and simper.
It is a massive stretch to bring in the sodding Strictly curse for James and Ola though. It's been over a decade! 🤣

I thought the same about the ‘strictly curse’ comments. They left years ago (James 2013 and Ola 2015) and have had a child since then - via IVF too, so one assumes they had a pretty strong relationship to go through that.

In both cases (James and Brendan) the backtalk and general attitude cost them the gig though, as refreshing as it might have been.

In today’s world, James would never have survived his partnership with Georgina Bousova (calling her fat and throwing chairs) nor Brendan with Sarah Manners (general bullying)

Yes. He's a cock. Often very racist comments on X.
But I thought they really got each other.

It’s a shame for J and O but hopefully they’ll both be happier in future and will coparent effectively. Good luck to them.

Well they get sacked now which of course they should, i am glad that culture of bullying for results has ended, I understand that is how some of them were taught that way, but it shouldn't transfer to. Celebs.

No, I know. I didn't mean being abrasive in training. I just mean the saccharine bs of the panel these days, both judges and pros are guilty of that.
It adds to the fakery of one big family, nothing to see here. And we all know that that's not real, especially given the furores of Wynn, Jamie and the other drugs/assault allegations they've tried to keep under wraps. All that was in the new era. I do wonder whether Tess/Claud and Stefania's departures were linked.
I'd much rather see the training footage in any case on the show and on ITT (if I watch it, Ellie - meh). But I think the pros are too aware they can be let go now (even though it's the first big shake up in years) so there's a lot more 🐑. We'll see.
Katya must be feeling it (it was claimed she was very close to being one of the heads on the block).
I digress. James could choreograph well, Ola did her dance round her sleb which Jowita is also good at, Brendan I give credit to for improving his ballroom so he was strong in both.

Absolutely, but the clap back with the judges was more often to protect their partners. The slebs can rarely defend themselves without taking flak for it (Will amongst others). So in that regard, it was better than the anodyne nodding, especially when some of the judging can be...erratic.

I know what you mean. I too would like to see more training footage and fewer nans! I liked James' choreo. Ola not so much.

I really hope Lauren gets a good pro this year. I have seen her dance live and she's a second Katya in the making.

Yes fewer Nans . I saw Lauren before she was on Strictly with Anton and Giovanni she is a wonderful dancer.

ETA Ola distracted from not great dance weeks with teeny tiny costumes 😀

I often know the sports people as I am interested in a lot of sports. The year Jonnie Peacock was in it I was over the moon as I was a big fan of his (saw him at the London Olympics) but loads of people, including some of my family and friends, had no clue who he was.

Although I don't watch any soaps or reality shows I do quite often seem to know some of the people from them. I think a combination of following a few entertainment sites on facebook and having fairly young neices who talk about some of the people in say Love Island,

There isn't one I am rooting for in particular this year. I am interested to see who they are partnered with. If Dani Dyer is partnered with Nikita again I may well root for her as I would love to see him win. I also love Vito so it may be that I will end up wanting him and his partner to win. Often though I start of really rooting for someone then completely changing my mind as the show progresses!

I think this year’s announcements (so far) are the weakest yet. Maybe that’s why they’re announcing them so slowly.

No ‘older’ women announced yet either but we will see who the last ones are.

I use his hair products and can highly recommend them.

To be fair, if I had Ola’s body back in the day I’d probably have paraded around in teeny tiny costumes too!

That catsuit she wore with Spoony was unforgiving!

This is totally fair 😀

The Mirror is saying this morning Gladiator Tabby Stoecker, Gavin and Stacey’s Melanie Walters and YouTuber John Nellis for the final 3 reveals

James Jordan has started a new podcast for midlife men with Brendan called " Manopause". First guest is handsy Wynne Jones, naturally.
Next probably Russell Brand or similar.

For fecks sake !