There might have been five over 50s in series 8 but in series 7 there were only two Jo Wood and Lynda Bellingham. I'm sorry but I disagree I think most SCD viewers would know who Matt Baker was from his time on Countryfile etc. I'm sure a reasonable proportion would also know the soap stars like Kara Tointon and Scott Maslen. They'd also be aware of Chris Hollins and the Hollyoaks soap stars.

The bigger point is though that this year there are no present soap stars in SCD. Waterloo Road isn't a soap it's a drama and it's not one of the BBC's biggest dramas like Casualty or Holby. Even if there were soap stars in the past who were not known by all of SCD's viewers they were bigger names than the majority of those picked in this year's line up.

An A lister is someone who has been in a major soap in this country or abroad at some stage in their career ideally in the last ten years, a leading pop star, sports star, politician in present day politics, journalist or other celebrity who is well known.

It could be argued that none of the this year's lineup are A listers but Jason Donovan, Harry Judd, Anita Dobson and Holly Valance just about come into this category.

Lulu might be popular among some people but she's hardly been a hugely successful singer over many years. Dan Lobb I'm afraid to say is a virtual nobody in reality you may as well have the Daybreak weather girl.

Edwina Currie hasn't been in parliament for 14 years and apart from the odd appearance on Question Time or Newsnight is rarely in the news. Robbie Savage doesn't compare to the other footballers on the show. Russell Grant is old hat you may as well invite Roland Rat or Rusty Lee. Rory Bremner is ok but only for comic value. Alex Jones is I'm afraid a bit like Dan Lobb Anita Rani has been on the One Show longer why isn't she on SCD?

Nancy D'Ellio hasn't been with Sven for some time she's just not a celeb now or a wag. Chelsea Healey is ok to make up the lineup but that's it. Audley Harrison is slightly better than Robbie Savage but still not a level with Calazhe.

There will always be three or four lesser known people in the lineup but to my mind this year there are too many and even the prominent ones who I've mentioned at the top are really not on a level with those who've been in the show in previous years including last year.

I think people are really underestimating Dan's popularity.

He'll be another Gavin Henson - not too good but getting through due to being the housewives' favourite.

Check the last series ratings
Waterloo road was getting over 5million (the same as Holby) & not far off Casualty

I have to agree with TheAuburnEnigma. This is all about perception and your perception is different to mine. For example, I certainly wouldn't call anybody from a soap an A lister.

As much as I hate to say good things about her, Lulu has never stopped working in the public eye andperhaps you should check out her website or her wiki entry to catch up with the work she has done in every decade since the 60s.

As for Alex Jones and Dan Lobb, in virtually every SCD series there has been a presenter from the BBC and ITV. Some people will know have known these celebs and some will not. Either way millions of viewers will know who they are.

Edwina Currie might not be on TV much these days, but she has now written 6 novels all of which will have been reviewed in national newspapers, magazines, etc., so she's hardly been in the wilderness.

Jason Donovan was starring in Priscilla Queen of the Desert until 2009 and in 2010 was recording a new album. This month he stops playing Captain Von Trapp in the touring production of The Sound of Music so he can do SCD.

Robbie Savage is a well known footballer (for being a dirty player) and even I know he played for Wales, but right now he is on Radio 5's 606 show.

If you asked someone to name an astrologer they would probably say Russell Grant or Mystic Meg and some how Russell manages to appear on TV on a regular basis.

I could go on. As for you list of the Series 7 and 8 celebs, your knowns and unknowns are different to mine. Just because you don't know much about a celeb, doesn't mean others won't. I think think this year's lot are as well known as any who have taken part before and plenty are household names. Celebs do the show for several reasons and drumming up work has always been one of them (Holly, Harry, Lulu..and others!?) but these days some do just want to do the show for themselves (Anita and Edwina).

That's all ok but I still maintain that this year's lineup are not as popular or well known as previous lineups.

The suggestion further up by another poster that Chris Hollins was an unknown in 2009 is quite bizarre given that it was largely due to his popularity and well known status on BBC Breakfast and the BBC in general that he won SCD, because his dancing wasn't as good as Ricky Whittle's hence his total of zero 10s from the judges in the whole series.

This is my last post on this thread , but there is a difference between popular and well known. This year the celebs are more well known than popular.

And I'd like to mention that although I don't watch BBC Breakfast, I knew exactly who Chris Hollins was because I watched him most Saturday mornings on the BBC News channel being a guinea pig and trying out extreme sports (I am female btw and not a huge sports fan). I had a pre-series bet on him and won that bet at 16/1. As I said it's all about perception.

To my mind Hollins was popular and well known he couldn't have won otherwise. If Jason Donovan wins this year it will be for the same reason but my point is that there are too many celeb contestants this year on SCD who have really not done an awful lot in recent year and if it's all about writing books why not have Ian Rankin or JK Rowling?

Chris got four tens in the final for his Charleston.

I think you have to ask why the celebs are taking part. If they were already 'popular' as aooposed to 'well known' wouldn't they be working on something else ?

Robbie?

Sorry to drag you back Guys, but I don't get these ones.
Anyone excuse my thickness and explain?