Strictly Come Dancing

[eithne]

The full lineup for this year's series of Strictly Come Dancing has been announced.

As previously reported, Smallville actress Kelly Brook, Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones and former Misteeq singer Alesha Dixon will all be taking part.

Sports presenter Gabby Logan will be competing against her husband, former professional rugby player Kenny Logan. It has also been announced today that ex-EastEnder Letitia Dean, TV presenter Kate Garraway, Rod Stewart's wife Penny Lancaster, and actress Stephanie Beacham will be joining the girls.

For the boys the BBC has also lined up ex-footballer John Barnes, EastEnders actor Matt Di'Angelo, TV presenter Dominic Littlewood, snooker legend Willie Thorne and actor Brian Capron.

Host Bruce Forsyth commented: "It's hard to believe this is the fifth series and the show goes from strength to strength. So many people I meet can't wait for it to return ... I can't help but get excited myself!"

While co-presenter Tess Daly remarked: "With such a dynamic cast, this year's Strictly Come Dancing is going to be explosive. We've got the babes, 'The Barnes', 'The Beacham' and even a husband and wife pitted against each other. Roll on October, it's going to be one heck of a show!"

The first show will see the boys competing against each other to the waltz or the cha-cha-cha, while the girls will face the public vote in the second episode.

All four judges - Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli - will return to the voting table, and presenter Claudia Winkleman will be bringing back her Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two gossip show daily on BBC2.

---

From Digital Spy

[eithne]

So what do we think of all the soap stars taking part? Have any of them got a chance of winning or is Kelly Brook the winner already.

[RitaLittlewood]

The way things are at the moment if Kelly Brook wins people will smell a rat and they'll be investigated. Being a Tenko fan I want Stephanie Beacham to win even though I'm not watching it. LOL!

Patsy

[sootycat]

I watched the first series, and after that have watched X-Factor.

I'm thinking this yesr I'll watch this.

Why do they have to have them on at the same time.

[RitaLittlewood]

Because they're all childish and petty. It's the viewers who suffer but they don't care about that.

Patsy

[Deleted]

We shall definitely be watching SCD - we lost interest in X Factor some series back. It's become a parody of itself, concentrating on the drama, the tears and the oddballs.

And let's be honest - how many ex-winners have gone on from the show to have any sort of career that lasted more than 10 minutes?

Like most of these reality shows, it's waaaaayy past it's sell-by-date.

Maybe I'm wrong. but I don't really class SCD a reality show, and the only thing that bugs me about it is Brucie - I think Graham Norton would make a better, more 'hip' presenter. Brucie's sense of self-importance wears very thin after a time, as do his appallingly bad jokes.

That said, I think SCD is fantastic entertainment, and this from someone who used to think Ballroom and Latin dancing was the pits - despite having a wife who used to compete at Junior level, and a sister-in-law who runs a dance studio in the US!

[eithne]

I don't think they are on the same time this Saturday night are they? I like both and used to like watching SCD on a Sunday night last year, when it was repeated on BBC2 at 8pm. This year I won't be able to do that as its been changed so the results are on at that time.

So I'll get the results but miss the dancing! What do you all think of the results on Sundays (like it is with Dancing with the Stars)?

[Nick]

I always enjoy SCD

glamourous,glitzy and entertaining

[Deleted]

I don't mind the results show being on the Sunday, and I also think it's great that the judges now have to final say as to who should be voted off.

The old voting system left it far too open to abuse by people who just wanted to see their favourite soap star (or whoever) kept in, rather than someone who deserved to stay through their talent as a dancer (Chris Parker being a prime example!).

We also enjoy the weekday 'Strictly Come Dancing - It Takes Two' shows - I think you get a better in-depth insight into the people taking part, and I think Claudia Winkleman is a great presenter.

[Nick]

I like Claudia Winkleman..about 9 years ago Geoff & I were in the audience of an edition of 'Talking Telephone Numbers' with Claudia and Phillip Schofield..she was really funny..chatting inbetween the live bits etc...

[RitaLittlewood]

I agree there, blackcatz. It's the same with so many of these things so those with talent lose out.

I see people have been complaining about the Sunday show after being under the illusion it was live.

Patsy

[Deleted]

The way things are at the moment if Kelly Brook wins people will smell a rat and they'll be investigated

Sorry - have I missed something?

Why are people assuming that Kelly Brook is already the winner, because the whole thing has been fixed?

[eithne]

Strictly Come Dancing producers are expecting Kate Garraway to dance for the first and last time tonight.

The TV host pulled out of training for the show after developing tendonitis, but she has vowed to compete against the other females in tonight's live episode.

One source has claimed that it will be "virtually impossible for her to continue" after tonight's performance, adding that Kate is likely to be voted off this weekend.

The insider told the Daily Mail: "Dancing at all is virtually impossible. If she gets through the first round by some miracle she is worried about carrying on in case she does lasting damage.

"We are expecting her to be in the bottom two or three anyway because she is going into this with little or no rehearsal."

Kate confirmed: "Come hell or high water I am going to dance on Saturday night. I am going to give it my best shot, it's not going to be pretty but there it is."

---

From Digital Spy

I wonder if this will prove true?

[RitaLittlewood]

But what if she wasn't voted off? Perhaps the viewers are sadistic.

Patsy

[Deleted]

Well well - I really didn't think it would be as easy to cock up the results with the judges having the final say!

Yet again, the public have voted for the most inappropriate people to stay in!

Yes, Kate did a sterling job to even get onto the dance floor, but she should have certainly been in the dance-off and voted out. Sympathy voting wins again!

Of the two who were in the dance-off, my wife and I both thought Letitia should have been voted off - quite honestly she was rubbish, and her grotesque facial gurning didn't help matters (was very surprised actually - expected her to be far better).

Would also have been nice to see someone older progress a little further into the competition, especially when they look as fantastic as Stephanie did, who bowed out very gracefully I thought, with great humour and charm.

Of the others I thought Alesha and Kelly were streets ahead of everyone else, but it will be interesting to see how they fare in Ballroom rather than Latin. Penny was good too, and Gabby is obviously very seriously 'in it to win it' - she had a face like thunder when she heard her marks!

Good show all round, but the boys will definitely have to pull their socks up!

[RitaLittlewood]

So they kept Kate in. I knew the viewers would be sadistic. LOL! If she was really that bad she should have pulled out.

Patsy

[Cheetah]

I agree with most of what blackcatz said but I think Stephanie Beacham marked her own card when she said she was just acting and treating the whole thing as a new part. I did think Letitia Dean tried harder the second time but I can't see her staying the course - she's letting her nerves get the better of her which really surprises me.

I reckon the judges making the final decision will be an improvement - unless a celeb they want out doesn't come up in the dance-off.

[Cheetah]

I listened to the experts comments (red button thingy) and Karen Whatnot - the one who won last year - when Kelly Brook was dancing said that it was obvious that she'd had training as a dancer???

[Nick]

We watched saturdays show..but missed sundays..I was surprised to see that Stephanie Beacham had been voted off but 'Hop along' Garraway was still in...

[RitaLittlewood]

Makes you wonder if Kate Garraway is telling the truth about her injury. If it really WAS that bad she wouldn't be taking part in case she developed a permanant injury.

Patsy

[Nick]

very true Patsy

[Nick]

I see SCD beat Ant & Dec for saturday nights ratings

[eithne]

Gabby - A nice quick, fun jive I thought. Fun filled and a good performance.

Gethin - He looked so serious during the performance and didn't look as if he was enjoying it.

Penny - Impressive, but not exactly well honed with those long legs.

Kenny - Too still and not enough grace I thought.

Matt - The baby-faced Ficks was surprisingly good. Nice moves, though with a few mistakes. Anyone see Shirley in the crowd with her glasses on? Looks very different doesn't she.

Kate - I really hated the colour of the dress. It was awful. The performance was fair and she looked so nervous. Agree with Craig and Arlene about the lack of drama.

Dominic - Fast, energetic and just plain sizzling. Loved the 1920's routine and style.

Leticia - Missed it. Niki on X Factor was too good.

John - Good footwork as Arlene said, but pity about the upper body.

Willie - Surprisingly good considering his age. That sounds ageist, but it isn't intended to be. People over 40 just don't do all that well in SCD, so that's why there is surprise there.

Alesha - "Fun, fast and fantastic" as Len said. Deserved all her nines. It was stunning. Is she a big contender to win?

Kelly - Jam packed with sexual tension, so very sexy. And that was just Kelly's outfit! Loved the dance too.

[Deleted]

Pretty fair assessment eithne - would agree with most of those.

Letitia was pretty average - unless she can pull something wonderful out of the bag soon, I can't see her staying long...tho' of course she's bound to get all the EE weenies voting for her.

So far, my favourites are Kelly, Alesha and Gabby for the girls (tho' I'm not too keen on Gabby as a person; she's just too competitive!)

I think the boys are really up against it this series, tho' I'd probably single out Matt and Gethin as the two with the most potential.

[eithne]

Kelly, Alesha and Gabby would be favourites of mine as well. Maybe Alesha overall because shes not quite as high profile as the other two and she was very, very good last night.

Totally agree about the boys as well. They are definitely going to find it difficult this year with so many good female celebs!

Who are we expecting to go tonight?