Anton and Erin could have been dropped five years ago without being particularly controversial, so I think the producers have a reason for keeping them on.

There is a parallel between Vincent and Flavia and the Bennetts, but I think V&F will be saved by the fact that the show has promoted them as *the* Argentine Tango specialists since before they even joined. If the producers wanted to replace them they'd either need to cut AT from the show or bring in a new AT couple, who by their own logic would be second best to V&F.

James and Ola I think could be in trouble, James was v childish last year. When Brendan let one loose at the judges most people were on his side, whereas most people thought James was rude and quite self-serving with his rants. If they are saved, it will be by Ola's looks*.

Katya and Robin I think may also be on the line. I know people say they haven't had chance with really good celebs, and that's true, but the same was also true for Nicole.

*I don't mean that's all Ola brings to the show, I'm just thinking in terms of the producers here.

Robin Windsor ‏ @Robinwindsor tweeted yesterday............



Very exciting news to be announced at the end of next week. Watch this space

Darren Bennett has said details of the tour they are doing will be announced soon, I wonder if this is connected with the rumours of Craig producing a tour with pro dancers?

I wouldn't think the announcement is to do with the new series, it's much too early for that.

I thought that as well but I was hoping maybe with the change of producer and stuff in the media about axing pros that they might throw us a titbit to wet our appetite or to give 2 fingers to Cowell and his scheming!!!

Just saw this - get rid of Robin Windsor , Anton, James Jordan

I wouldnt mind too much if the Jordans went and a new couple came in, they seem the most likely to go but i will probably be wrong .
Only pros i see as being safe is :
Aliona ( as shes current champ)
Pasha (grt first season )
Artem (very popular )

I cant see much more than two maybe three changes being made especially with a new judge this yr .
I dont think they would make a huge amount of changes with the show being so succesfull last year .

I'm hoping the new production staff concentrate on a grt new judge and good celebs rather than messing up a grt bunch of pro dancers . Seems a good balance atm .

Im guessing its Jubilee concert news

I did think Flavia was given "The Grant" as punishment for copping off with her second male Celeb partner (and dumping the first)

Also look at Artem and Kristina's Argentine Tango's with their celebs this year.
Both got stunning performances from their partners, so maybe those two could do the exhibition AT.

Ask yourself who you wouldn't miss.

Simples for me is Anton & Erin and Vincent & Flavia.
Both have their own tours and don't do the main Strictly Tour, but would you miss them?
They would want to do Strictly to really promote their own tour shows, but they could do that by going into the Jungle or doing Celebrity Family Fortunes

Artem can do comedy, and Kristina had John Sergeant in her first year.
Both are due duds this year - as is Aliona.
Anton is just a joke, and Erin did nothing with Rory Bremner this year despite him being enthusiastic and seemed quite capable at first.

I would like to see Kristina go - she is big headed

They've axed pros after every series but one, so it's a safe bet for a tabloid to bet on. I sincerely doubt they'd cut as many as 4 or 5. If they do do a small cull, it depends whether they want to snip people who the public wouldn't recognise or remember (a la Hayley/Jared) in which case I'd guess Robin and/or Katya would go, or if they want to cut people who don't really have anywhere else to go in terms of fresh storylines or creating controversy (a la Darren & Lilia or Ian) in which case I'm not sure who it'd be out of the old guard, because they all have pros and cons. Erin would seem the most likely if she wasn't a large part of keeping Anton on board.

Why do you say that? I never thought that

The Jordans to go for me.
James constantly answered back the judges last series and Ola started a bit as well.
Ola is quite cute but there's plenty more fish in the sea.

unfair and incorrect

<Sigh> Why must posters make unfair assumptions about Flavia's private life

Anyway re the rest of your post yes I would miss Flavia and Vincent from SCD - I don't want to see them eating bugs or other disgusting things in the jungle or doing inane quiz shows I want to see them doing what they do best which is dancing & with respect to Artem and Kristina while they're both excellent pros they're no match for F & V in the AT and if I remember rightly Kristina's AT got a marmite reaction on this forum. Flavia and Vincent are the real deal they're an authentic Latin couple and none of the current pros can portray the fire and passion of the AT like they do.

Erin I'd miss too - I think she's got a fantastic sense of humour and a great teacher - I think she did wonders with Rory - they were just unlucky! Anton I wouldn't miss because he's such a berk but understand he comes as part of a package with Erin and he has a following.

I don't see why these couples should be penalised just because they have their own successful tours and I don't think they're just doing SCD to promote their own tours - I think they do it because they enjoy it too - most of the people who watch the tv series don't care about SCD tour anyway!

Fair comment - My main point (in an earlier post - apologies for not linking)
was that most of us don't know how these things are interpreted "backstage" and by the "powers that be" at the BBC.

Pro's who appear stroppy on-screen may be a delight to work with off screen, and vice versa.

The "other" tours / shows might be an issue for a new producer/ or BBC corporate.

I would imagine the producers probably ignore complaints from some Celebs about being over-worked by their pro partners as "whingeing". However, if a Pro was considered "difficult" by BBC backstage staff then they would probably be cut.

There would be a line between Pro's being "demanding" to get their Celeb to work hard to get the dance right, and get the staging right for the dance to work on TV, or alternatively being a pain to work with.

Wouldn't mind seeing James, Ola and Robin go. I quite like everyone else Why must the producers change it? Why not just add? There were 16 couples a few years ago, if you dropped James and Ola, that's 4 new faces, 2 extra weeks of dancing, more viewers, and keep most of the old ones. Sorted... Surely? Or am I being foolish by trying to add logic to this situation?

As long as they ditch the right pros and get in better replacements then I'm not too fussed in truth. There are a few past their sell by date in my opinion.

Wouldn't miss Anton, Erin, James, Ola or Robin to be honest. Not too bothered about Vincent and Flavia either, although I think they are better dancers.

Would love it if they brought back Brian (not going to happen though ).

i dont care who goes as long as its not robin

I like the Jordans, James' Rumbas IMO are the best on the show and i don't think they would get rid of Vincent & Flavia as they are AT world champs, would just seem silly

Can see Katya and Robin going definitely
Anton & Erin should replace Bruce & Tess

Ian to come back and replace Robin and some fun new younger pro's from BTF (Burn The Floor - check out Tristan MacManus DWTS pro, he auditioned for SCD but was turned down, he's become a big hit in the states getting a dud partner to the quarter finals!)

I think the producers should try and attract some younger celebs ala Chelsee Healey this year maybe Beth Tweddle or some other olympians, its the 10th year of the show they should try and get some relatively big names

Well looking at the age range last series (I might be wrong on some of these but think I have most of them right):

Under 30s: Harry, Chelsee, Holly
30-40: Jason, Alex, Robbie, Dan
40-50: Audley
Over 50: Anita, Russell, Edwina, Rory, Lulu, Nancy

I would have said about 3 per age group was correct, but I'm surprised at the amount of over 50s - they made up nearly half of the line-up.

As for younger celebs, it is usually the younger ones that get to the latter stages - the oldest winner we have had was Chris Hollins who was 39 when he won in 2009. If I got Jason's age right (I don't think I have, I thought he was either late 30s or early 40s) then all of the top 6 would have been under 40. Pamela in 2010 was the oldest finalist ever.

I'd like to see more of the 30-40 age group, as they have given us some of the best celebs - Colin Jackson, Mark Ramprakash, Austin Healey, Tom Chambers (think he was just about in his 30s, possibly Jill Halfpenny as well), Zoe Ball etc etc

As for pros:

Brendan's the bad boy turned good, "rent a pro" certainly hasn't done him any harm, I would be shocked and disappointed if he went as I think he's one of the best professionals there.

Artem is known for innovative choreography (a bit like Aliona but his is generally liked more) but he has been quite lucky with his celebs and from what I've heard he was good on the tour with Nancy so would like to see what he does with a "dud" - will the choreography still be exciting? Also, I could see him leaving of his own accord if he keeps picking up an injury every series. I don't think he'd be axed.

Pasha has done really well for his first series, some great choreography there, but like Artem sometimes I feel that he tries to push his partners a bit too hard. Nevertheless, he's proven quite popular I think so he'd be safe.

Vincent - master of AT but pretty good at every dance, and although his choreography isn't memorable as such, he does tend to do quite well with his celebs. The only reason I could see him leaving would be due to MT, but I shouldn't imagine that would be a problem.

James, Anton and Robin I think are in the danger zone - I feel Robin should be given one more series with a younger, better contender to see how he does. He managed to get Patsy and Anita to around 6th/7th in his 2 series so I think he's done well. He's not as memorable as Artem or Pasha but then there hasn't been a possible showmance angle like there has been with the other 2. James, although I think he's a good teacher and does tend to get the best out of his celebs, I feel he's a pale imitation of former bad boy Brendan and people don't seem to like him as much as they did Brendan in the earlier days. Think he could be going. Anton just isn't up to the Latin, bless him. I actually think he could be a potential replacement for Len, but I doubt he'll be going just yet.

Of the girls, I think Aliona, Natalie and Flavia will be safe. Kristina is in the bubble and I reckon that if she hadn't had Jason last series she would be toast. I think her choreography has saved her from the axe. Katya is like Robin in that she hasn't had a contender as such, so I would also give her one more series to prove herself. Erin like Anton isn't as good at the Latin, but she is the ballroom queen and does usually get her celebs quite far in the competition, I can only see her going if Anton does. Ola is who I think should go, some of her choreography has been great but the Latin stuff tends to be the same thing every time and by now it's like we've seen it all before.

Katya worked miracles with Gavin Henson and was brilliant on the tour when it was obvious Robbie was there as a comedy act. She's really gone up in my estimation recently, and she and Pasha have sold out their own small-venue tour, so I'd actually be surprised if she goes. In fact, I'd be surprised if she doesn't get a contender this year.



It's been done before, and as much as people (me included) moaned about it on here, it didn't affect ratings badly at all.


They'd be my guesses for the pros to go as well. I like Ola but wouldn't be too bothered about the rest going. The Jordans have said they don't want to do demonstration rumbas anymore, so it's hard to see what their unique selling point that would keep them in the show is...


Please explain how Katya, Aliona and Natalie's positions are precarious! Katya's, as I've explained above , is certainly not definitively precarious; Aliona is the defending champion and clearly popular with the producers seeing as she's had contenders 2 years running and Natalie is by far the best female ballroom dancer Strictly's got atm and has really gained in popularity over the past couple of years!



Please stop with the petty irrelevant references to people's private lives.

Artem and Kristina are good dancers, but Kristina and Jason's AT was terrible (on the show and on tour) and I didn't rate Artem & Holly's either, though he did do a great one with Kara. No-one comes close to V&F for expertise in AT among the current pros.

And I think you're being very unfair on Erin. She's had her day, imo, and I would much rather see her as a judge, but she does seem to be a good teacher, Rory was just much worse than expected...

Tory could dance, it was the curious marking of Lulu and Alex on that night which cost him his place

Change is normal otherwise shows become stale and some pros will want to move on. Why not have a competition to see which of the pros who want to stay actually do?

Erin got two very decent ballroom dances out of Rory - so yes he could dance - Latin was always going to be a problem because he's a middle aged man not used to shaking his thang - the week they went out he was just very unlucky they had Latin dance and they were scored quite low - there was probably a lot worse than him on the night though!

Would love Erin to either replace Tess, or, more ideally, leaving Claudia to take that job, have her replace Alesha. Allow Anton to keep his place on the show in a Bruce type form, and give them both their American Smooth/Quickstep/Foxtrot in the final show like when Alesha and Bruce did their dance? If they want to replace them with newer fresher dancers I'm ok with that, but I'd like them both to stay.