First act announced:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...strictly.shtml

G

I am surprised at the lack of any comment on this one ....

Not a fan myself, but they are certainly "big" stars at the moment.

I left the names out in case anyone thought it some sort of spoiler.

Maybe I shouldn't have?

G

The thing I most notice is that Peter, Kara and Tina have the same publicity-type person as Bruno and Craig. I can just hear the cries of 'unfair' when *that* little snippet becomes widely known....

Gary Barlow and Robbie Willians to sing on the first Strictly week-end

Saw the new single on the Concert for Heros on Sunday night, Its fab.

Im on holiday thank heaven for Sky+

Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow set for TV duet



Singers Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow are to duet on Strictly Come Dancing and perform their new single.

Williams, 36, and Barlow, 39, will take to the stage on the British talent show on October 2 as the brand new series returns.

The pair will be singing their new single Shame on the second live show of the series.

Executive Producer Moira Ross said: "Having Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow performing on our first live weekend is a fantastic way to kick off this series.

"With all 14 celebrity couples either dancing a Waltz or a Cha Cha Cha, it's going to be an exciting start to the show."

The first live show will air on October

From the MSN home page.

I already started a thread on it

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/forums/s....php?t=1353049

Titled so that it can be added to when further guests are announced.

G

Sorry didnt see it - my apologies

And that Len appears to be handling his own publicity (would explain a lot)

I'm not sure if we should use spoilers on here or not. I mean this is an example of 'The BBC has announced...' rather than a secret being posted.

I'm quite happy not to use spoilers as people will come in here to find out who the guest stars are. What does everyone else think?

I am not a fan, but this is a huge improvement on digging up Andy Williams and the 'god daughter' of Amy Winehouse.

Get back on the Norty step !!!

Well thats a result!

Better guest performers was another of the things that needed fixing, so a good start on that.

Oh god, yeah. Haha, those trainers that he was wearing with his suit..not a good look, bless him

They usually have the artists surrounded by the dancers doing a routine don't they? I wonder if on this occasion they'll have the lads dancing with the lads and the lassies dancing with the lassies.

Except that Robbie's performance on X Factor last year and his recent performance on Concert for Heroes were both disastrous. At least Amy's goddaughter remembered her lyrics!

I do hope this is a sign of things to come - last year's music guests were awful.

God, couldn't Gary Barlow do a duet with someone who can sing?

Is this the duet where all you can hear is Robbie? lol

Simon Cowell is said to be furious

(Sorry, there is an article posted on DS TV news this morning but I couldn't link)

Yes, and to be frank, it's got nothing at all to do with him nor X Factor (as SCD isn't even clashing)

Unless he now expects the BBC not to even try to produce any sort of programme just in case it happens to appear even remotely attractive or enticing.

Boy, that man has got some front.

I much prefer Strictly to X Factor but I will be surprised if it were to get higher ratings even if there is no schedule clash this year.

Lots of people I speak to have said that this year's X Factor auditions haven't been great and there is not much talent (I haven't watched anything of it this year) yet it doesn't appear to be affecting the ratings.

I hope (as I'm sure we all do) that this year's Strictly is an improvement on last year's & if it is I can see the SCD ratings getting a boost which is good but I can't see it getting the sort of figures X Factor got last year. As long as the show & the ratings are good that's all that matters, even if X Factor ratings are better.

I agree - I can't STAND Robbie Williams, nor can I understand why Take That have let him re-join them. The guy is so deluded about his (lack of) singing ability.

I don't think it's so much that they have "let" him rejoin, I think it's more he agreed to. Over the last few years he is the bigger star, especially in the US.

He may not be to everyone's taste but he is a very good singer. People become so used to seeing artists who mime or use Autotune, that when someone sings live it can sound less than perfect. I'd much rather hear that than something that's been electronically corrected.

I'd prefer to hear something live and in tune, there not mutally exclusive. Williams may be a good performer but he's not a good singer, I think being a good singer includes hitting the right notes and remembering the words.

I didn't think Williams had any sort of success in America.