Our Celebrity Dancers for 2010 revealed!

Seems like and interesting bunch seems to be a lot of older contestants but a much better line up then last years nobodies

Very happy with that lot - a good mix of personalities methinks and, unlike last series.....I actually know who they all are without the aid of wikipedia lol 8-)

Lots of oldies this year. No one stands out as that great. The winner will be Tina, Kara, Scott or Gavin. I'm sure Goldie and Jimi will be fun to watch.

Also why couldnt they keep it all secret till saturday?

The new celeb line-up looks great!! I'm really interested to see how Felicity Kendal does as I think she'll be quite good!! I hope she's paired with Anton as they would make a great couple I think!!

I'm actually more interested in which professional dancers are on the show. In my opinion they are the stars of the show and the reason I watch

I like the line-up, and I actually recognise all of them apart from one. My mum will love Felicity Kendel and maybe even Gavin Henson as well, lol. And with Peter Shilton being apart of it, my dad might even watch this year too!



On first glance I have no favourites and am going to keep an open mind with all of them, at least for the first few weeks anyway :] I'm definitely going to enjoy watching the progress of at least 10 of them!

I've just been reading the biogs. Kara, Matt and Michelle look like they could have lots of dance potential. There are several others who might also go on to impress, which would be great - more competition at the top end of the scoreboard makes for an exciting show. I'm looking forward to seeing how Felicity Kendal gets on - she's one of my favourite actresses.



[PS to Strictly Paul. Sorry to see the BBC News Channel broke your embargo after you stayed up late! Thought you might want to know - a couple of typos in Goldie & Shilton biogs.]

Great biographies, vast improvement on last year's! Enjoyed the video interviews too, several made me laugh, which is a good start!



Not a bad line-up at all in my opinion, 11 out of 14 I like, which isn't a bad return! It might be an older average age line-up than normal but most seem to have decent personality and a sense of fun! Looking forward to the launch show now, there are maybe only 3 pairings that are in any way predictable!

Well, a mixed bag! Some of these contestants haven't faired too well on other TV reality shows, PD for example, had quite a high cringe factor on celeb Wife Swap I seem to recall, and it does seem quite loaded at the other end of the age scale, is this a BBC stab at letting us all know that they're not really ageist I wonder? I'm not expecting the standard to be too demanding this year,given the age of some of the participants; AW doing the Rhumba will of course be a treat for us all. Such fun ! Can't wait for it to start anyway whoever is in the line-up !

Up to today, I wasn't feeling very enthusiastic about this season's Strictly - but it's looking promising. I think there could be some dark horses in there! Gavin - sportsmen have already proved competitive and hardworking; Felicity - think she'll be another Cherie; Matt Baker - DJ, gymnast, stunt man...cute (no favourites here); Goldie - I was very impressed with him on the Conducting programme and think he'll be interesting to watch. And that's just for starters. Yeah, think I will be tuning in after all!

Some interesting celebs, better than last year.



But yet again over populated by ex-soap stars. Pretty fed up with that.



Does the BBC not realise that there is life outside of soaps, and I for one do not watch any soaps at all.

I knew there would be a Blue Peter presenter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I actually know who lots of people are without the aid of google!

I have even met Felicity Kendal!

I cant wait till the series starts! (and by the way why is are the live shows only starting in October??????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel compelled to say as a Strictly fan from the start that this line up does not excite me at all, too many oldies! a complete turn off! Kara Tointon, obvious favourite as she has done a spin off on Strictly before...come on BBC, we are not "Dancing with the Stars" get some household A listers on, not some Z listers!

I would like the BBC to remember that not all of us consider this to be of national importance and would appreciate it not being part of the national news broadcasts.



The BBC seems to think that it is required to lower itself to the apparent obsessions of some tabloids.



Enjoy it, if you do, but keep it in perspective!!

Just watched all the videos. Feel more excited than I did this time last year so hoping it lives up to expectation.



Great news that none of them know who they are dancing with yet and they all have only 3 weeks to practice. Also no vote off until week 2.



Bring it on!

How exciting!!! I love the Strictly Come Dancing experience and look forward to it every year. Like others have said i lost interest (Shock!!)last year, but i think this year will be A-MA-ZING!I think the Boys are going to hold their own, I am already backing Matt to win!!Also look out for Aliona Vilani, she was the best pro live!!! Bring on the sparkles!

I agree with Vikkibenn! This lot is really scraping the barrel. And unlike the commenters above, I haven't heard of most of them (I am a BBC watcher!) It shouldn't be a free-for-all, it should have people who potentially CAN dance. Age doesn't necessarily matter, but AW? I don't think so! We watch it for the dancing more than anything else.

A mixed bag, but some interesting looking ones. Looking forward to seeing Jimmy Dance, he could be really good.

A few there that I will have to google to find out who they are - must be from the soaps I am assuming.

too many old people. not enough sexy guys.x

How dare you waste the licence fee on such pathetic celebrity trash TV, leave this sort of thing to ITV.



More dumming down of the BBC!!!

...nice moderation, you only post comments that are complementary about your tawdry little show.



Glad to see that free speech is alive and well at the public funded BBC

I didn't know most of them. I don't watch soaps.

The biography of Anne Widdecombe says she opposed the ban on hunting. Rubbish! She was a staunch supporter of the ban and has supported animal rights in other areas too. Get it right.

Not bad, but not good either. Where are the foxy cricketers? And the journos? I would have liked Paxo, or Peston or Robinson to lend gravitas - but having Doris Karloff is great. She's become a National Treasure, heaven knows how.



But the problem with this year's Strictly are the changes. We don't want more set show dances, we don't want to wait two weeks before we vote, we don't want the results show without the dance-off and Brucie - and most of all, we still don't want Alesha Dixon. We will never want Alesha Dixon. The BBC continues to dumb down everything, playing to the lowest common denominator and ignoring the oft-expressed wishes of its audience and paymasters - us.



And you've done it again with the fabulous format of Masterchef, turning it into the horrendous horror that is Australian Masterchef.



It's as if the election never happened, the dead hand of bureaucracy still rules at the Beeb, and now, thanks to Stephen Fry, we know what's behind it all. As a former professional Change Manager, I recognise the results of a culture of fear. It stifles creativity and looks inwards, fails to focus on customers, and engenders paralysis.



Have the bosses at the Beeb never read Kafka? Or do they actually think he was designing Utopia?



I could cry.

I hate the sports stars, they are too competitive. Its supposed to be entertainment, not the olympics. I shall be supporting the underdogs as always. I dont know who Kara Tointon is and awful Patsy Kensit would come to the opening of an envelope. Ann Widdecombe to win!

I avoid soaps so have'nt a clue who these people are, but shall watch Ann and Felicity with great interest.

I'm with you Diane - don't watch soaps so didn't recognise a few of the names, and I agree I think Ann will be brilliant. Apparently she has all ready said that she is the comedy turn - the little one who is two steps behind everyone else!!

Interesting line up. Dying to see who gets who on Saturday night.Hubby is especially excited about Felicity Kendal being on the show.Goes some way towards making up for his disappointment over losing Lilia.

I am so so excited about this line up...its gonna be great...esp Scott Maslen YUMMY

xx

I think the line-up looks good - don't know some of the soap stars but that's OK. I think complaints about 'too many oldies' are rather rude - the older contestants look like good fun and they add a touch of interest and humour that the younger contestants sometimes lack. I always find it fascinating how different people turn out to be once you 'get to know' them better, and that is one of the great things about Strictly.



I agree with some other posters that it's a pity that some of the most popular professional dancers were ousted from the line-up, and I am also unhappy that Alesha Dixon is still on the panel. I know several people who mute the TV when she is passing on her inane comments. In our house, it's our chance to roll our eyes and shout at the telly.



Despite the grumbles (the constant fiddling about with the format is another gripe) I am really looking forward to this year's Strictly Come Dancing!

I think this line up kind of takes SCD back to a line up similar to the earlier series. I quite like it and think it promises to be fun. I certainly do not agree that we need so called "A listers" and I don't mind having participants that I don't necessarily know very well at the beginning of a series as ITT gives us a chance to get to know them quite well.

Can't figure out why there is a launch show this weekend then a 3 week gap though??? (unless I have got that wrong - please put me straight if I have misunderstood)

Still don't like the Sunday results show.

Glad they've got rid of the dance off.

Still don't particularly agree with having Aleesha Dixon on the panel in place of Arlene.

Glad to see more of Claudia.

Finally, very sad to see some of the previous professionals will not be there (I loved Lilia especially):-(

Does anyone know who the professional dancing partners are?

Phewwwwww no ex-girlfriends in the line up this year. I can vote concious free this year.

Where are the professional dancers?

Hi dancehalldaze, I believe there is a three week gap for training/getting to know your partner. Unlike previous years, the slebs/pros will not meet until today so there won't be the long training build up - makes it more fair. So, now, the gloves are off and they are all aiming to do their best on 1 October. And then we get two weeks before a vote off which is also fairer (I believe).

When they introduce celebrity 'strictly come cage fighting' I might take a passing interest

Interesting Line-up, Couple of oldies, But a few that will be good. Kara, she be good, Scott Maslen(Jack From Eastender) we have something to look at, seen that we don't have Matthew Cutler to look at.



Can't wait for it. Getting excited. :)

I like the line up of dancers for this year's competition.



Isn't it time to bring in a new male co-host though?

It looks more like Strictly Come Bus-passes this year! At least there will be several candidates for the John Sargeant role!



There are still over half of them that I don't know, but as usual I'll get to know them as the series progresses.



I will also miss Lilia and some of the other professionals.

Overall I think it's an interesting line-up, looking forward to the launch show (which would be MUCH more fun if the Messageboards were re-instated, hint hint). The PR photos are strangely unflattering though (esp the photo of Matt Baker, makes him look like a waxworks figure).

Can't wait. Peter Shilton used to play for my football team, he gets my vote before he's even put on a sequin! :)

Better line up than last year....but please give Anton someone who can really dance so he has a real tilt at winning this thing!

I am looking forward to seeing Ann Widecome dancing!!!!!

Great line up, and some really interesting personalities. I can't wait to see Ann Widdecombe and Craig RH going toe to toe - although Ann is too good a politician to get flustered by him.



Matt Baker is my favourite! I really really hope he can move his hips. If he can then he could be a winner...

My family are fans of Scott Malsen and Tina O'Brien Eastenders and Corrie is watched all the time



I don't think to much of Ann Widdecombe,Paul Daniels, or Goldie's chances



But I loved Felcity Kendall in The Good Life she gets my vote and also Matt Baker watched him on a holiday consumer show this summer so will defnitley be cheering him on



So my favourites are Scott Malsen, Felicity Kendall, Matt Baker and also Patsy Kensit and Gavin Henson.

Well I'm signing out now but could not go without posting another comment and I will be watching the live group dance like last year it gives me a good observation of who's good and who should hang their dancing shoes before the 1st results show.



Love the new site and the blog and look forward to making plenty of comments.

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And now the end is near & so i face the final curtain ha ha ha ha talk about no expense spared & coupled with & return to the much loved ( but nobody knows by whom ) Sunday results show i doubt i could have done better if tasked with the job of killing the show . Who's the favourite ( certainly no favourites of mine ) well who cares Peter Shilton ( rubbish at pens ) Felicity Kendall ( never watched didn't like the good life ) Paul Daniels ( im not gonna like this a very lot ) Anne Widdecombe ( add your own here ) Gavin Henson ( got to grips with a singer with large chesticles ) oh & apparently he played Rugby occasionally for Wales & probably someone else maybe someone will know who , Patsy Kensit ( Ppffftttt )the rest are nothing to me

I find it impossible to get excited or interested about the new series of SCD. The last 2 series have resulted in the best dancers NOT winning which, to me, simply wrecks the whole purpose of the show. To let the general public decide the Final outcome when professional judges have been involved every week before that simply defies logic. The general public are unable to make the correct choice simply because they cannot observe all the steps and movements on the dance floor. This, for me, makes the entire 'exercise'pointless.

I feel sorry for the professionals who get Anne Widdecombe and Paul Daniels cos they might as well get their taxi home now!

Looks good. Wondering which pro dancer will be dance with which celebrity.

There is no forum yet. To bad but I found another forum online

Disappointed not enough A lister celebrities. Also I think there are too many old contestants this year and agree with Lisa. 2 from Eastenders!



I am an avid fan of Strictly but this year not excited about the line up at all, and probably will only watch the odd episode or so.



I didn't expect Alesha Dixon to still be on the panel this year!

hi im so looking forward to this year like every year, love the line up could be interesting. glad Bruce is still doing the show on saturdays will miss him sundays though, but claudia does make me laugh tess your always fab. be watching saturday byeeeeeeeeee

A confused rugby fan (although a massive fan of Strictly!) here wondering just why exactly Mr Henson has signed up for this whilst aslo stating he wants to play for Wales in the world cup next - if that is a realistic aim of his he better hope he gets voted off really soon! Also how exactly is he a celebrity? He hasn't played any competitive rugby at any level for 18 months - a strange choice Beeb.

I watched the Felicity Kendal interview on video, but was very distracted by the unnecessary thumping music in the background. Is it the same on all the videos?

If it is, I won't bother to watch them.

But I would like to know what is the purpose of that distracting thumping, anyway, as it occurs in quite a lot of BBC programs.

A great line up this year, I'm going to support Felcity this year! Big fan of this lady, wish you all the best felicity, go girl!

I think Goldie has the potential to be a dark house, he had a surprisingly good sense of rhythm in Maestro and could do well with the right partner. He seems quite tall so might work with Erin.



But the dream final would be Felicity and Anton (seriously, they are so suited to each other it isn't even funny) vs Matt and Erin (but he isn't particularly tall so might get Flavia instead). However I am biased as an Anton fan and being of Matt's Blue Peter era...



Anne Widdecome to get Vincent and be the new John Sergeant, Paul Daniels to get Ola and Peter Shilton to get Natalie. Pamela Stephenson to get a new boy and be out first as she's probably the least well known on there.



Also, am I the only one who really doesn't like Gavin Henson? Sadly I suspect he'll stay in as the eye candy, but I just find him hugely irritating.

Dark *horse, sorry!

A few users have posted comments regarding their disappointment re no "A listers". Just curious to know who exactly they expect to take part in SCD, considering what they would be paid compared to say working on a film or high profile tv drama, West End play etc. Can any of you give an example of your level of expectation? Jill Halfpenny was one of the most popular winners of all the series and she is a regular UK TV actress who could not be classified as an "A lister" (nb: appeared in Chicago on stage after SCD). So, what's different about this line up to all the previous series?

I'm looking forward to seeing Anne Widecombe, Felicity Kendal, Matt Baker and Michelle Williams! :D

Some of these older contestants are very disappointing (and I'm older than most)in that one wonders...why? Perhaps Paul Daniels will display some unexpected magic, but I doubt it. Anne Widdicombe...well she's a splendid political animal. Are these people simply in there to be knocked down - I suppose I know the answer to that!

I really cant wait for the start!! I think its a much better line up than last year. I feel there will be more competition this year. Roll on!!! Good luck everyone!!

I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself (without even seeing them dance yet!), but I've got the list organised by my order of excited anticipation:

Michelle, Kara, Matt *****

Jimi, Goldie, Felicity ****

Tina, Scott ***

Patsy, Pamela, Gavin **

Ann, Peter *

Paul (sound of wind whistling through ghost town)

Really looking forward to this year..some interesting choices.

Can't wait to see Felicity Kendall have a go.

Scott Maslen, will certainly be easy on the eye, whether he can dance, or no.

Can't quite see the point of Anne Widdecombe, on any level, but can't see her getting past the first few rounds, or Paul Daniels, for that matter!

Neither of them have the "John Serjeant Factor," IMO.

have enjoyed strictly for years But am so sadsthat arlene is not on

aleysha is so awful sorry but thats how i feel it will be sky plus so i can fast forward her

https://scdbbc.roflforum.net/forum.htm





Forum for ex BBC SCD message board devotees.

I'm quite happy with the mix.



Quite happy with the oldies.



But which one will have to drop out first?



2 couple final again anyone?

An early prediction - Michelle Williams & Matt Baker for the final - watch this space.

Definitely a better selection than last year but but Paul Daniels. Why oh why and Ann Widdecombe pleease tell me this is a mistake!

Interesting line up and with loads of personalities.



Bring on Saturday!!!

It seems it is going to be a very interesting show and with Claudua doing Sunday night great.

I think Anne Wiidicome will be a great contestant and enjoy, because she will not bother what any one thinks.

Oh dear, where do they find these people? The sad decline continues. On a positive note, we have the fabulous Claudia on the results show and perhaps we'll get to see Ann Widdecombe doing a raunchy Rhumba? That would be worth the licence fee alone!

Don't know if I'll watch it, last year was to me a wash out, voting a fiasco, did'nt like the change in judges, why alter a winner? who's altering things because they are killing it and do improve on the camera work we like to see the contestants dancing not facial studies (look at the old come dancing progs). This years should be Come Doddering, is getting old contestants a deliberate ploy? still have to be convinced its improved on last years if I'm to watch it.

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Delighted that Alesha is returning this year also looking forward to Claudia and who will be paired with who!

I'm very dissapointed with this year's selection of celebrities and I'm not sure I even know who some of them are. But I'm even more dissapointed that Darren and Lilia aren't taking part this year. In my opinion, Strictly has been going downhill for the last few years - firstly, we lost Arlene from the Judging Panel, then my favourite dancer Karen Hardy left, and this year we have lost Darren and Lilia. Yet we still have Bruce Forsyth and his excrutiating "jokes" and inability to read an autocue! I'm not sure I will bother to watch this year.

like the line up but whats the betting anton,brendon,erin,ola,and james get the older dancers and the new boys get the new dancers and please i hope kristina gets paul daniels or peter shilton. and it will not be the same with no matthew culter and ian waite and darren in the troupe why change things. and good luck alesha x

I think Michelle should be good...can't wait to see who's dancing with who!! I am in pig-heaven, Strictly's back in Town

I won't be watching it this year. Too many of my favourite professionals have gone. Especially Lilia. Sorry BBC but you have made a big mistake.

I've read somewhere that this launch show was recorded on Wednesday (so the celebs already know who they are partnered with), plus if what the newspapers go by is true, then we already know that GH is paired with KV.



Here are my predicted pairings (no idea about heights/whatever, so I'm just going random):



Anton and Felicity

Jared and Michelle

Vincent and Tina

Natalie and Scott

Erin and Peter

Aliona and Matt

Flavia and Jimi



Not sure which other professionals are still in it, but I bet Kara will be with one of the new male pros, as will Ann.

They've whittled down the soap actors, but there are still too many. How about having NONE next year. Go on producers, use your imagination.



Still, there's some interesting people this year, thankfully.

i like the line up this year it looks good,michelle williams i think is going to be the favorite, which i think is not going to be a good thing.she has a dancing background.

i am hoping that the scoring for this years strictly gets sorted out as well.i think that is another thing that has ruined strictly for the last couple of years.

Looking for strictly social for tonights show, is it still going to be on strictly web page please?

I was once an avid strictly fan, but i am not going to be watcing past the launch show. It doesnt have the same vibe without the old professionals. I also find it quite hycocritcal of the bbc, saying that they are trying to make the show younger How does that work when over half of the celebrities over well over the age of 50 and the replace arlene phillips with Alesha Dixon.

Oooh so excited for this season!

Was dissapointed to see so many of the original Professionals are missing. Very sad there is no Darren and Lilia!!

I have to admit I love Artem, I watched him all through So You Think You Can Dance in America and he's amazing.

whats the betting Anton gets Ann Widdecombe

I'm afraid that I am now confined to my computer once again for a couple

of hours while Strictly is on because I cannot stand Bruce Forsythe and

his "Lord of the Manor" attitude. He seems to think the show has to revolve

around him,and that it would fail without him, but I think there are quite

a few who could fill job better.

fingersray.

Why try and fix something that wasnt broken. Bring back the old format and professionals

From a female point of view - I will be enjoying my Saturday nights !!

see knew it, there was no way he was going to get anyone with a chance of winning after actually getting to December last year

Not impressed with the show so far. Ian's only in the pro troupe. Won't be the same without him and a celebrity partner