I think it's a great lineup. Some fairly big names involved, and it makes a refreshing change to have new faces.

What a load of old miserys there are about though, moaning before they've even seen anyone dance! Vince and John will be pretty good and I wouldn't write off Fearn or Ronni just yet. June might surprise as well, and be quite graceful. Why are people assuming Ronni will be shit? Just because she's a comedian?

GHOSTBUSTERS sorry couldnt resist.

I will probably watch because I watch all Strictly things but I have to say I am a bit dissapointed in the line up........I am sure they will entertain me but we were lead to believe that the new Christmas line up would be celebrities that due to their high profile didnt have time to commit to a full series of Strictly.......this line up doesnt quite add up to that.......non of them are remotely what I would call 'high profile' unless you count a member of the government.....John signed up to weeks on Dancing on Ice at one point (didnt last that long mind you) I cant see Fern, Ronni or June being far to busy to do Strictly and none of them are what I would call 'high profile'. I never liked the last 4 of the current series being involved it was a bit dull having just seen them for weeks and I can see that they were rapidly running out of people they could ask back (as with the pro/celeb tour frankly) but I do feel that I have been led up the garden path to a bit of a bramble patch.

Were you really expecting the uber-A-list, Jan? I just saw the advertising for the series as a poor attempt to hide the fact that they wouldn't be doing the same thing as usual this year.

I didn't expect globally famous names to be queueing up for a one-night-only gig, but I did expect a load of the more usual names who weren't able (or, more cynically, couldn't be bothered) to commit to a full series, or didn't want to be humiliated by being voted out early, to be queueing up for the chance to 'have a go' for cash (rather than for charity like CIN).

I've no problem with Cable dancing as a hobby, in his own time. (I've no general problem with Cable, either, if it seems like I do.) But given how worried I am about my work next year, and most of my friends, yes, to be really honest, right now I'd like to see my politicans grey and sleepless and working till all hours, and not dancing on TV in sequins. That's just me.

I've also seen JB in musicals and the man can dance. I really enjoyed seeing him in musicals but what is he learning? I don't get what the point of the show is. If they can all dance, I'd rather watch a show of Anton dancing with Erin or Matthew dancing with Flavia.

But it's doesn't matter because I'll be playing Scrabble with my aunties miles from a TV anyway. I hope everyone on here loves it.

first Ann Widdecombe and now Vince Cable...man the Tories love dancing...usually on the poor

I know that cable is lim dem just in case anyone says anything

Agreed. I don't agree with having any serving politicians being on the show (or at least one retired politician come to that). I don't have an issue with Cable's politics per se, but I suppose I do have a bit of a problem with BIS who I work with very closely. That makes it a bit worse for me- probably cancels out the fact that he actually likes dance, which would otherwise be a bit of a plus.

I'd rather see that anyway, but could Flavia not dance with Vincent?! Or are you picking Matt since he's in the Xmas show?

Well yes. I'm sorry if I offended anyone by saying it's a terrible line-up. I get a bit tired of saying IMO after every post, but of course it's just my opinion. I'm sure most people could think of a combination of five celebrities they would never watch on Strictly... the Beeb just happened to pick one for me this year!

JB I think will be excellent. I would probably watch him if it weren't for the others, although I find his personality a bit grating.
Cable- already discussed
Ronnie Ancona- can't bear her work, so don't see myself being a big fan
Fern Britton- grates on me
June Brown- sorry, just don't like contestants this old being on the show.

On the contrary, I think this has the potential to be quite charming, partcularly as it is only a one-off show, and not something we are going to get tired of week after week.

Watching the Chelsea pensioners dancing with Ola and Kristina the other day, and also video clips of older couples dancing, can be quite moving.

Not really my cup of tea.

I'm looking forward to it - not bothered if they learn anything or not - it is just entertainment at Christmas time a bit of light relief

I can believe Barrowman had difficulty fitting in a full series of strictly. DOI was before Torchwood, Tonights the Night, his concert tours, Panto commitments (I know Panto might not seem like much compared to Strictly, but JB has always said he really enjoys doing them as they give kids their first theatre experience, and he's been packing out 3000 seater venues the last few years). Plus who knows what other stuff he has lined up. I mean he's done a West End show and Desperate Housewives recently as well.

I'm looking forward to seeing him dancing on the show. I would imagine he'd really throw himself into the experience. I've only seen him dance in video clips and he seems pretty good when choreographed (and not so good when left to his own devices!)

Oooh please let Vince Cable be dancing a foxtrot to 'Let's Call the Whole Thing Off'
All together now...
"You like Trident, but I don't like Trident,
You like Tuition Fees but I don't like Tuition Fees,
Trident, Tuition Fees, Trident, Tuition Fees,
Let's call the whole thing off!"

I'm just going to add that I am a NZ'er and I know who June 'Dot Cotton' Brown is, Fern Britton, obviously John B. (Doc Who, Desparate Hwives), Ronni Ancona but not Vince Cable (not familiar with parliament over there)

So it is a pretty good lineup considering...I like them alot and can't wait to see 83 yr old June on the floor. I thought 82 yr old Cloris was older!

My only query is with the pro dancers, How can Anton and Vincent spare the time to train new dancers when they are currently training a celeb on the current series.
Shame they did not use the Xmas series to make use of Darren and Ian as they are not really being used as the dance troupe on the main series

Vince's heel-turns may be as good as his u-turns

Surely five new contestants is better than five who we've seen before, whoever they are?

Anyone heard anything about tickets for this yet? Have the lucky ones been told??

I applied for tickets a week or so ago, but haven't heard anything yet. I'm assuming I've been unlucky as the BBC website now says "fully booked" and the filming is next Monday IIRC.

Out of interest, does anyone know how the tickets are allocated? Is it "first-come-first-served" or are all applications drawn lottery-style?

It was a ballot as usual with Strictly tickets, but as far as I know, no-one has been informed yet whether they've got tickets or not!

kara tointon was banned from training before the show because of her dancing experience I hope cable is banned from training too

I am being stupid...What is BIS please?

If Ann wins the glitterball she will have a place of honour by right in the Christmas Ball.

Hope they tell him one thing then do another........

Vince I hope you get a samba and jive......

Im so happy that world class dancer Matthew Cutler wil be back on the dancer floor, give this show some class.......its been sadly lacking in decent pro dancers.........

Foxtrot and American Smooth I read.........