The News of The World are reporting that the producers at Strictly have decided to axe four professionals and turn the competition into a 10 week, 12 couple competition.

The only star who has allegedly signed so far is Brooke Kinsella, ex-EastEnder and Knife Crime campaigner.

Would be good if this were true. The present 16 is way too many and it gets boring.

Not sure I have any faith in NOTW reports though

Not quite sure what to think of this if its true. I liked having it on telly for as long as possible, and its a bit worrying which Pro's they might choose to get rid of. I would hazzard a guess at possibly Anton and Erin but don't know which other two.

I would think its wayyyy too early to sign any celebs, but she would be pretty good I think and wouldn't mind her being one.

I hear Kerry Katona fancies a go at it. If it is true about Brooke, well she is 5ft 1 so is probable for Darren who is the smallest of the male pros.

Kerry is 5ft 3 - good luck Vincent

I *think* the pro's would would leave would be Anton, Erin, Katya and James.

None of them made much of an impact last year and Anton & Erin are both I think ready to go anyway.

Probably the most dubious source there is, so I don't trust it.

I would say they won't cut it to 12 if they're still considering going against the X Factor and finishing around the same time. 14 is more realistic, and probably better - 12 is cutting back too much. The more interesting thing if it's true is which pros they would cut....

And I thought it was a little early for contracts to be signed/participants confirmed? The pros don't get their contracts until the summer....and that makes me even more dubious about this.


And on a side note, if Kerry Katona takes part I'll be forced to switch over even if she dances with one of my favourite pros (even if it's Vincent who has to suffer her - please no! ). If there's one person I'd personally pay the BBC not to have on the show, it'd be her!

I agree on both counts.

14 is the optimum amount and they only have to get rid of two pro's (Anton and Katya?) if thats true.

Also, Kerry Katona has already been rejected from Dancing On Ice this year so I would hope Strictly follows suit.

I don't think they would sack James given how popular Ola is....I think both the Jordans and the Bennetts are in a position where one half of the couple is far more popular than the other and wouldn't contemplate continuing with the show if their other halfs weren't there also.

I thought James was quite highly rated though with the shows producers given the amount of work he was sill involved in after elimination.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't want any of the pros to go, especially Darren and Lilia

I'm in two minds about this as I think the show was better with 12 couples BUT it means cutting back on the pros as well and it would break my heart if Darren and Lilia were one of the couples to get cut !

I think if 4 had to go it would be Anton + Erin and Brendan + Katya or maybe Brian and Kristina (well thats who I would say)

I really hope it's not true

Brilliant news. Hope it's true. Have said for ages they need to cut it down to 12 couples again. Hopefully this will improve things and it can get back to the Strictly it used to be. Will be interested to hear who the pro's are they have axed.

Could we not have 12 professionals partnered with celebs but still have 16 or even more involved in the pro demo's? (not at the same time, but eg bring in V&F for an AT demo if they aren't involved) Surely that would be fairest? Whoever the BBC cull, it will make a lot of people unhappy.

x x x x x

They should soooo do that because all of the Pros are A-MA-ZING and none of them deserve to go. I'd be very unhappy if Darren and Lilia went, so unless any of the pros want to go then I don't think they should.

I would prefer 14 to 12 to be honest, but i'm not gonna get too annoyed as it might not be true

Yes to Brooke though as i reckon she'd be quite good, and yes she is small so she should go to Darren or Vincent (Darren in terms of fairness imo)

A big fat no to Kerry though!!

there's no need to cut the celebs they cant just have double eliminations which will cut down the weeks instead

But wouldn't that mean she'd have a massive sympathy vote behind her regardless of the dancing? So no matter if she dances as shit as Kate Garraway or Fiona Phillips, the public will put through at the expense of a better dancer because of what happened to her brother.

It's unfortunate that Ben died and I do have sympathy, but she isn't the first nor the last to go through this tragedy-millions go through this every day (take the Middle Eastern boy who died this week) without the celebrity that she had.

It's the NOTW so not the most reliable source but I do believe they'll cut the number of contestants this year. I don't want them to cut any of the pros but obviously if they are cutting contestants some will have to go.
If the bosses are trying to improve the show, get more viewers back and rebuild it's image in some way surely the last thing they'll do is hire Kerry Katona!

What an awful thing to say.

It is more than "unfortunate" that such a young life was lost due to knife crime, and if Brooke can use her celebrity status to try and discourage carrying knives, and maybe save lives, then good on her.

Sorry for what I said, but why raise awareness of knife crime via Strictly Come Dancing?

... as opposed to raising awareness of the availability to work of various washed up celebs?

I'm sure she'd have more sense than to talk about knives at every given opportunity... personally would rather hear about that than say Tom Chamber's wedding plans!

Where did I say or even suggest this?

She has been campaigning ever since her brother died.

James is very popular with the producers given that he did so much on ITT after he was eliminated last year - and Ola is very very popular with the public, so she's safe and therefore so is James, as it's not likely that she'd stay on the show if he was axed. Likewise Darren is safe due to Lilia's popularity, although he's also popular himself. If 4 pros are going to be axed my guess is Anton, Erin, Brendan and Katya - all because they have other projects and so, coupled with the popularity factor of the couples above, are probably the least likely to be offered contracts. That's why I hope they don't axe 4 pros - I wouldn't want to lose Brendan and Katya.


That's what the US version does or did I think. It's feasible, but whether or not the BBC would be vilified for that being a waste of money is another thing altogether....

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I definitely think a cut in the number of couples is necessary. 16 is far too many. Sometimes less is more. 12 would be ideal but i would settle for 14.

Anton & Erin (especially Anton) are past their sell by date so I would be happy if they left. Would be happy to see the back of Kristina too, although I like Brian.