is he really that popular

Really? Even at the height of his sporting days he was well known for being one of the laziest people ever, his nickname of 'The Cat' was to do with his ability to sleep anywhere, nothing to do with any cat like grace. Just can't see him putting in the hours necessary, plus, when it came to fielding, put it this way, I was more coordinated then him - I'd guess he's more Sergant then Ramps

I suspect you are right about Tuffers being more Sergeant than Ramps. He is what I call a marmite contestant. People will either love his cheeky chap humour or hate it!

Me? I can't wait!!!!!!! I think he could be very good entertainment value and I am pretty sure he will make it past quite a few weeks.

He's as popular as winning I'm a Celebrity makes him, I guess.

As popular as Kerry Katona then

Week One

Rav Wilding vs Chris Hollins

I can't see Rav being too good at the latin as he is just so big

Tuffers won IAC 6 years ago in a series so bursting with other options that Linda Barker managed to finish 3rd.

(I do think Tuffers is fairly popular, and has the potential to be more so on the show if he plays his cards right but winning IAC in that instance isn't a great indicator of form. Ulrika went out very early on DOI but won Big Brother - different formats suit different people)

I think that Tuffers will be quite popular and will stay in a few weeks. I'm not sure who will go home first at all. I guess we need to see them dance.

I think Chris might stay a bit longer than might be imagined. A lot of Breakfast TV viewers may support him (some of the Bill fans maybe) and Ola is still popular with a lot of people.

Can I ask what makes you say that about the size of pro fan bases? Please don't think I am being argumentative, as I am just genuinely curious (and a Matt fan). I would have though were were talking about a few hundred genuine die-hard devotees with maybe a few thousand keen but less devoted fans, if you know what I mean!

I think the Rumba is a terrible first Latin dance for any celeb to do, but for a male celeb the odds are really stacked against them imho.

I feel sorry for the celebs who have to dance the rumba on their first week, like you said Buddy it's worse for the men as it's difficult. I wouldn't have liked tango and rumba on the first week. These couples could be in danger if they don't pull it off to a decent level

Impossible to say without seeing anyone dance yet
And also the public are a contrary lot, often voting for the worst dancers anyway just p*s the judges off! (JS and KG spring to mind)
Think I'll save my judgement till I've seen how they do

Agreed. It's a bit of a graveyard dance at the best of times! Although for the women if you get it quickly its not so bad. Alesha did it as her first dance and it didnt do her any harm!! I guess it may also depend on your pro, Matt is a bit of a master when it comes to the rumba!

Worst combination is probably a male celeb having to do the rumba with a ballroom specialist for a first dance!

For what it's worth there's no difference between the number of men eliminated on a rumba and the number of women - 4 a piece (5 each if you include losing finallists)

The rumba is a tough dance to do first up. On the other hand it gets it out of the way at a stage in the competition where most people aren't particularly good and nines and tens aren't being sprinkled around like confetti. If those dancing the rumba can nail their ballroom round they stand a good chance of going through and never having to dance the rumba again! I know for some it's a big if!

Thats interesting cos its always being mentioned that its harder for the celeb men than women. Thanks for that info.


Fair point. If you do an ok job with the rumba now its quite positive. An ok job on week 8 would probably get slated.

i think martina can be the gabby logan of this series. technically the best dancer but the public dont warm to her but i think they might warm to her

That's a really good point, the couples who have the rumba may be glad because if they can get through week 1 then they won't have to do it again. If you do a weak rumba later on in the competition it's much worse I think.

No problem. I think that when SCD started the pros were an unknown quantity and the celebs were the people that people had heard of.

But now the pros have become very established and I know loads of people who vote primarily for the pro not the celebrity. I am not just talking about people on forumland, but avid dance fans who like the style of particular professional.

Chatting to them they quite often mention the pros as much as, if not more than, the celeb partners.

I agree with your week 1 choices, but think that maybe Richard and Lilia will be in the bottom 2 on the 2nd week.

It's so hard to tell though having not seen anyone dance yet.

Nearly everyone seems to have Chris down as an early exit, but i'm hoping that loyal Breakfast fans, plus Ola fans will keep him in...at least for a few weeks

I agree - apparently he does know his left from his right foot, which is a start- and if it is true that he can dance he should be OK

I don't think any of the guys will be in the dance off this saturday - I think it is more likely to be an all girls dance off.

The following week - is a bit more clear cut for me. Jo and Brendan will in all likelihood end up in the dance off - and it could be Laila and Anton/ Richard and Lilia joining them - with Jo likely to go

Would do wonders for Brendan's ego to see him go for an early bath!

But how would the show cope without him

I think it would muddle along OK

There may be an equality reason in the casting too - neither of the male pros in last year's final probably have front runners this year wheras some people who went early or have never got to the end may have.