John Barrowman confirmed for Strictly Christmas special

fab! can't wait. xx

All of a sudden the Christmas Special has lost it's appeal.If there is one person I cannot stand on TV then John Barrowman is it.Will have to Sky+ and fast forward through his bit.Hope he doesn't get one of my fav pros as a partner.

Well he's certainly a big character and will really put his heart and soul into it I'm sure.



So does this mean the end of the usual show where old contestants and the current winner compete for the Xmas glitterball?

I think John will be great! He's energetic, funny and talented, should be entertaining. Which pro will he get? Karen Hardy possibly or maybe Ola?

excellent, he will need a determined pro to keep him in check. Karen Hardy would be good or maybe Erin.

I thought Karren Hardy had decided to take a backseat and organise the choreography for the professional group dances. But her Wikipedia entry says fans of ballroom dancing suspect she retired voluntarily to concentrate on her new dance school.



I think Erin would be a good choice. She is experienced. But could she handle an excentric and frankly camp personality as John Barrowman?

Erin danced with Julian Clarey so JB would be no problem for her. However I hope they don't put him with Erin as she is one of my Favourites and frankly he gets on my nerves.

Oh my god, can u imagine it?! John Barrowman, dancing, sparkly, in SEQUINS!?!? I cannot WAIT. Wonder if they would ever pair him with a male dancer??

Pleeeeeease ask Graham Norton

Absolutely FANTASTIC news!!! :-) I LOVE John Barrowman, and if Fearne is confirmed, that'll be equally wonderful, as she is one of my faves too!



John B was sadly voted off far too soon on the very first series of Dancing on Ice, so hopefully he can make amends on the Strictly Christmas Special.



Looking forward to it already!! :-)



Thanks for the news Paul, and all the updates.

Brilliant!



I love John Barrowman.

Brilliant news. I too thought he left DOI too soon.

Went to see his show this week and he was great.

Great I love John Barrowman, nearly as much as I love Gavin Henson so im really pleased. I would love to see Gavin win but its time for him to get back on the rugby field now.

Pleeeeeease ask Graham Norton- love to see Graham Norton doing Strictly

Matt Baker doing the main series and now John Barrowman for the Christmas special. I must have been a VERY good girl this year!

Thanks BBC.

I agree that Graham Norton would be a great guest to have on Christmas SCD; I will always remember his dancing in the caravan on Father Ted.

If you want some real competition for JB then you need to bring on David Tennant, Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper, Catherine Tate, Elisabeth Sladen and dare I suggest Kylie Minogue who would all give Captain Jack a run for his money. The professionals could be all those dancing partners who have disappeared into history, Darren Bennett, Kylie Jones, Camilla Dallerup, Nicole Cutler, Lilia Kopylova, Karen Hardy, Paul Killick and if his not too busy on DOI - Matthew Cutler.

Then perhaps there could be a theme to the Competition that evening, I wonder what it could be???

Not only would it be a great competition but in one show the BBC would be able to attract two of their greatest fan base demographic groupings.

But of course I forgot that the BBC doesn’t programme to attract ratings they leave that to the commercial stations.

Pity it could have been a great way to upset Emperor Cowell and his cronies.

Keeeep Dancing!!!

Now that will be something to look forward to! The pro dancer would ideally be Karen Hardy, or failing that Katya or Natalie. They are both training their celebrities hard at the moment!

This is fantastic news, and I totally agree with little munchkin @ 8, who said he could be the first celeb in an all-male partnership - if anyone should do it, it's the great JB!

Excellent he'll be awesome - seen him dance a bit on other stuff and I think he should be teamed with Natalie as her great choregraphy and musicality would suit him brilliantly - Well Done Strictly and Paul for giving some great news :)

Would they have John Barrowman dancing with Ian or Matt?

re; 15 lostchachachamp. If we both keep shouting for Graham do you think they'll listen?He's definitely the best thing on both tele and radio at the moment I reckon!!

Ah brilliant - and Chaswick's idea of a Dr Who contingent would make my day - love it, love it, love it.



Since JB is a dancer perhaps this year they are looking at a bunch of celebs with some dance background - it will make for a cracking special as they will already have the basics and the celebs could really do some show off routines - can't wait x

I have long thought that the Christmas special should have Christmas songs in it and this year seems like the perfect year to bring that in as the celebs won't merely be dancing their best dances. I have an image of a Viennese Waltz to It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, or a Jive to Jingle Bell Rock, or even a Quickstep to Harry Connick Junior's Sleigh Ride. Oooh I can almost smell the chestnuts roasting!

JB should be partnered with one of the most glamorous and sparkly girls. Kristina would be good because they would look like the old Hollywood movie stars and she deserves a bit of glam at last.Otherwise Ola or bring back Lilia as they both twinkle. Not Natalie, she takes it all too seriously.

Very happy that JB is in it.

omg i love him :D

although he wasnt so good on dancing on ice i think hell be brill on the dance floor i just love him

Nia (24)

:-)

What a pair of inspired ideas:

1. A Christmas Show with a Christmas theme to it, the Suits might even go on your suggestion, although they are probably into Winter Sports, the Natural World or a Hollywood Musical theme.

2. Giving the celebrity couples a seasonal tune and they will have to choreograph an appropriate dance to it. Much better than trying to waltz to 'Poker Face' or Jive to 'Holy Night'.

Unfortunately your suggestions are too logical and lack the necessary challenge to the competitors. I like them though, keep up the good work.

Keeeep Dancing!!!

Well THIS is a turn up for the books. I think I must have been inhabiting a different planet for the last few days as this is the first I have heard about new celebrities and the Christmas special format. Brilliant. Am so pleased that the Producers are trying to be imaginative, and I LOVE the judges' new guises for Halloween !

TippyTappy, Hopefully ,they will listen? I agree with you Graham Norton is the best thing on tele and radio. Would watch him for hours. He would do the Irish proud on the dance floor. I have idea if Bruce ever retire, he should host Strictly.:)



Plus, Chaswick, that's is a great idea having the pros who have left Strictly,like Matthew, Darren,Ian ,Lilia,Karen,etc in the Strictly.

Tippytappy, hopefully,they will listen. I agree with you that Graham Norton is the best thing on tele. Would watch him for hours. I have an idea if Bruce ever retire, Graham should host Strictly. Graham would do the Irish proud.:)



Chasick, that a great idea to have the pros who have left Strictly, Like the lovely Matthew Cutler, DArren, Lilia ,Karen,Camilla and Ian. I assume we have to wait for Dancing on ice, to see the lovely Matthew Cutler dance.

Sorry, for writing the post twice, the first one disappeared of the screen after I posted.

So long as Vincent is taking part I'll be happy!



Was gutted he and Rachel finished runners up AGAIN at the last Xmas Special!



I want him to win that Glitter Ball once.

excellent news, can't wait!

Great news, love JB. Can't wait to hear who else is on.

Having watched Graham Norton last night i'm even more convinced that he should appear on SCD, preferably as a contestant but otherwise as a guest judge on special occasions.He is an incredible talent and a joy on his show from start to finish.

yes as a contestant but Graham would be ideal presenter for it when Bruce retire.

Look forward to the Christmas show will Brucie be presenting for this one?

Please help! Does anyone know the time/date of the finals show? Last year I had friends round for an amazing party and we all watch Chris win the series. I need to let everyone know the date for this year.....

@anton4eva

I absolutely cannot agree with you more. Obviously, John Barrowman is in between jobs at the moment (no longer part of the Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber searches) and, therefore, is now going to spoil Strictly. I would imagine he'll want to take it over once he's got his foot in the door. He has a mediocre voice and should stick to pantomime and not ruin our Strictly!!

John would be fantastic with Erin - and I can't wait to see John on the SCD Xmas special - he is gonna be HOT HOT HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can not believe JOHN BARROWMAN is going on Strictly. He gets on my nerves so so so so much, I cant stand the bloke, it will certainly spoil the programme for me.



I heard on the radio today, that he's the one thats taking over from Brucie, Oh god I do hope not, he is an annoying pain the in a**.

Andrew



After seeing how quickly Graham Norton picked up some basic moves from Pamela last night, I would have thought that he could join John Barrowman on the Christmas Special.



Unless of course because you are only using celebrities like John who are already accomplished dancers, in which case SCD should be looking at Paul Mercurio, Tina Morice, Aiden Quinn, Terence Stamp, Paula Abdul and Ben Richards.

Perhaps you could even convince Bruce Forsyth and Arlene Phillips to take to the floor?

Keeeep Dancing!!!

I cant stomach this guy. I wont be watching now. He's so smarmy he makes me feel sick.

Please dont turn the Christmas Special into a Dr Who fest.I can just imagine the beeb deciding to have all the Dr Who's dancing, plus their sidekicks.I think the Radio Times is a good read and value for money, but it could be easily be called th Dr Who mag.I hope I havent given anyone any ideas.if i have ...Where's my fee???

Erin and Kristina - defo a jolly and entertaining group

I wonder who his partner will be?!?!?! It will be great to see him dancing!!

Of course, if the BBC decide to be as politically correct as the Israeli TV version of SCD, then John Barrowman could be partnering Graham Norton!

Keeeep Dancing!!!

For anyone who wants to know what Lilia is up to, she is currently appearing in Turkey on their version of the show, she has the dual role of Judge and Choreographer and is responsible for everything dance related on the show.

47 Calm down dear :)

tippytappy @ 46



Too late daaahling, I have already staked my claim on post No.17.

In fact I have heard that the BBC have already been onto Gallifrey and booked the Time Lords Formation Dance Team for the event.

Apparently their version of the Time Warp carried out by sixteen couples is 'Out of this World'!



Lets Dance @ 50



Thank you for the information on Lilia in Turkey. If the truth be known I suspect that many of the BBC Strictly Agents are embedded throughout the TV stations of the Earth ensuring total World Domination by SCD.



Hang on tippytappy, perhaps the BBC could have an Espionage theme to one of the shows, perhaps when there are 007 celebrities left? There could be a Goldfinger couple, a Moonraker couple, Diamonds are Forever etc. Ann & Anton could star as Dr. Evil and minime.

BBC, I also claim the conceptual author's fee for that one as well!



Keeeep Dancing!!!

wouldnt it be a good idea if all the judges danced at the end of the series to show us the perfect dance darling, maybe John Barrowman should dance with Craig Revel Horwood.........lol!! Make it a Christmas special and they could all sing as well!!!!

Actually Chaswick, i dont want a Dr Who theme, but if we're floating suggestions here my real wish would be a Chicago based theme(the musical not the city).But it wouldnt work because I dont think enough people would know the characters.So now I've talked down my own idea!Thinking about it, really this kind of performance should be on Dance for Comic Relief not SCD.PS... Myself and another blogger have already shouted out Graham Norton's name many times in the vain hope that someone will persuade him onto SCD.He's talented,witty and totally un-sycophantic(if there is such a word)He would be ideal.

tippytappy @54



I totally agree that Graham should have a go, but I suspect that his ego would be worried that people might laugh at him rather than with him.

If you saw the Graham Norton Show on Monday evening, Pamela was a guest with Lord Sugar, Lee Mack and James Blunt.

Pamela showed Graham a couple of SCD moves and he was as nervous as a cat on the proverbial hot tin roof. Still Pamela can have that effect on some people, especially when she has a certain wicked gleam in her eyes.

The other candidate that I would like to see "have a go" is Claudia who has had so much tuition from Len on IT2 that she should be quite proficient already.

After all Sir Terry and Tess did their best for Children in Need in 2008 and the Newsreaders have their annual party, why shouldn't some of the others let their hair down? That goes for double when they host a reality show putting fellow celebrities through the mill.

Well tippytappy, MrsA, feribon and gorscot

Keeeep Dancing!!!

Totally agree with hollygolight. I cannot bear John Barrowman, he's unbearably smarmy and not that great a singer either.

Have just read these blogs and am surprised by how bitchy a lot of them are. For those who have said they don't like John Barrowman there are undoubtedly just as many, or more, who do like him. Surely the point is - what can he bring to Strictly?

He is a showman pure and simple, can do a bit of everything (& my personal comment is that I think he's a good actor)and he is looking forward to learning ballroom dancing which is totally different to what he has done before. Good luck to him.

But I too would like to know why the format has changed?

Will be very interesting to see how Kristina handles this John!

John Barrowman will be fantastic to watch as he has natural rhythm, will be nice to see other celebs this christmas and maybe this time someone other than the same people will claim the christmas trophy. It got a bit boring watching Rachel who did a fantastic rumba with Vincent having to lose out to people who had won the show earlier in the year and denying other couples the chance to feel like winners. Thank god they have change it for this year.

John Barrowman is an other favourite of mine ,Matt is still number one for me though, I think John will be fantastic !!!,

looking forward so much to the Christmas Special.

Oh I love JB as much (no , a little less) as MB

Why can't we have Lillia as a judge and get rid of Aleesha ?

and now we're at it, dump Bruno as well, there must be an OUT OF WORK

proper professional male dancer who can take over from him !!