If Andy Murray does not get to present the ITT gig this year instead of Claudia then he will defiantly be a contestant.I think he will be with Kristina if he dances this year.Thats what I have heard

I think you'll be in for a bit of a dissapointment. The sportspeople only take part if they are retired or the sport is out of season (cricket).

Hasn't stopped him in the past.

Darren Gough gave up a tour with England to appear

Andy Murray is doing too well just to give it all up though.
I hope he appears, don't get me wrong, but I think if we're looking at Tennis players its more likely to be Tim Henman, Pat Cash or Sue Barker.

And I don't think we'll have this year- we've had two years featuring tennis types (Andrew Castle and Martina Hingis) so I think we'll get a different sport represented (hopefully football).

The Usa Open finished about 2 weeks before the start of SCD

Like I say we've had two tennis players in two consecutive years, they;ll give tennis a break.

I think we are due a Cricketer now.

Oh Lord. Does anyone else find the names mentioned here really depressing? I've really started to prefer DTWS, the standard is so high. Last year was amazing (perhaps the best 2 ever imo, in Melissa and Gilles) and this years started well too.
Anyway, I thought they had a bigger budget this time?
Regardless, I hope they have less celebs who are doomed from the start (the obesse/OAP's etc).
I enjoy watching them for a giggle and to see them improve as much as the next person but it gets a bit much when they make up for half the cast.

No he didn't. He gave up a tour to spend more time with his children, and then he accepted the opportunity to appear on Strictly as he could fit rehearsals around the time he spent with them.

I've always thought Lisa Butcher would be good (model/ex host Britains next top model) She is best friends with Mica Paris who was partnered with Ian in Series 4.

I remember reading years ago that Heidi Range from the Sugababes would love to do it, she's only about 5'2 so one for Darren or Vincent.

I agree Angela Griffin would be good.

I always find men harder to think of. I don't think Charlie Clements would do it as he recently said he left EE as he didn't like being in the limelight (or word to that effect).
Jack Ryder (ex EE and ex of Kym Marsh) he's very short so a possibility for Flavia (or whoever the shortest pro is).


I love threads like this

Vincent wouldn't have a showmance, and somebody as self-important as Hannah Waterman wouldn't last long on the show - Ricky was very popular, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Hannah go out week 1 if she did it. I'd prefer it if she went out in week 1 too, even if she was dancing with Vincent! It'd be like Craig and Flavia this year - fabulous pro dancer paired with a slightly delusional celeb and making an early exit as a result.



At least give us a source if that's what you 'have heard'. And for the last time, Claudia is signed on to do ITT this year, so if Andy Murray is appearing it will 100% be as a contestant - he won't have a presenting role.



I think Tim Henman said 'never' when he was asked! There was talk of Teddy Sheringham last year or earlier this year, wasn't there. He'd be a good football representative, or else we could have another rugby player....


And he won't want a holiday after that, never mind not getting injured, or having to prepare of the season-ending Tour Championship, for which he would qualify on his current ranking....

Really, don't feed the troll!

We need some really good short men this year. I'm thinking Mark Owen, Nigel Harman, Ben Shephard, Toby Stephens. The Beeb should allocate two-thirds of the budget to male celebs, since they tend to get the votes whether they're good or not- at least this way we might have a better chance of a credible male winner!

Yes please!

I agree we need better men, i suggested Jack Ryder but not sure he'd be any good but he is short!

I think Nigel Harman would be great- he has a musical theatre background so hopefully would be reasonably good, and would get the ladies vote I think! He has said definitely not in the past, but you never know!

I think in particular there should be some good short men, just because Lilia, Flavia and Kristina are all due a bit of talent this time round!

I think Nigel Harman is a great idea BUT Ben Shephard is already a trained dancer (imagine the up roar ! ) Mark Owen is currently in rehab so may not be fit enough come september and I don't know who Toby Stephens is

Male celebs tend to get away with experience more readily than females, so I'm guessing Ben would do ok. Didn't know about Mark, although it's ringing a bell- has he just admitted having multiple affairs? In which case Strictly is the ultimate way to get a bit of good press again, the same way he did on CBB!

Toby Stephens is Mr. Rochester! He is almost certainly too much of a serious actor to be seen dead doing Strictly though. Just added him for a bit of variety
http://knightleyemma.files.wordpress...s_longhair.jpg

I think Ben Shephard actually has a degree in dance so I think that may be a bit too much experience even for a male celeb ! (although hasn't stopped DWTS from employing trained dancers *cough* pussycat doll )

I think you could be right about Mark Owen, lets hope he can sort himself out.

Toby Stephens YES !!! although I thought Don Warrington would be too much of a serious actor for strictly so we can live in hope !

That's a shame about Ben as i really like him, although he is linked with DOI so maybe that would definitely rule him out.


I wouldn't mind seeing Guy Burnet (Ex Hollyoaks) doing it, possibly paired with Lilia or Flavia.

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At least give us a source if that's what you 'have heard'. And for the last time, Claudia is signed on to do ITT this year, so if Andy Murray is appearing it will 100% be as a contestant - he won't have a presenting role.


And he won't want a holiday after that, never mind not getting injured, or having to prepare of the season-ending Tour Championship, for which he would qualify on his current ranking....[/quote]




Andy realises there is a lot of hurdles to overcome before his dream can become a reality but him and his management team are trying to work out a solution that will allow him to appear on both SCD and the season-ending Tour Championship


There is a possibility of making sure that if he gets to the semi final of the season-ending Tour Championship which would be played on a Saturday that he would be guarantee to have an afternoon semi final starting at about 1pm.

This would give him plenty of time to get over to the BBC well before 6pm

I'll tell you who I could see doing it now - Charlotte Church, she's about 5ft 5 so given the heels could go with James

Katie, I agree that Lilia, Flavia, Kristina and even Ola could do with shorter partners this year. It really doesn't look right when are in hold with a 6 footer, even though I know Matthew and Nicole had a successful partnership, but then they weren't competing in ballroom.

(However I did check and Toby Stephens is at 5' 11"" is veering on the taller side and so is probably only suitable for Ola at 5' 4" bearing in mind that she wears heels.)

Nigel Harman definitely, great idea!

If his experience doesn't rule him out then I think Ben Shephard would be good too - more personality than some of this year's male celebs anyway!

And if we can't have Mark Owen then what about another member of Take That?


And if we really want short, how about Richard Hammond?

Damn, I was liking the thought of Lilia and Toby!

I do like it when the shorter girls get someone up to about 5'10 though. More than that I think is tricky for the celeb in ballroom, but less than that they struggle with lifts.

I found it strange when they put tiny Ola with very tall Andrew Castle, and tall Camilla with average sized Tom
Obviously doesn't always go by height.

Is Nigel Harmen short? I always pictured him at about 6 foot.

What about Gabriel Thomson who plays the geeky son in My Family, he'd be good for a laugh, or Robert Kazinsky.