what complete and utter waffle!!!

Kristina is the least big headed person I have met in a very long time - she is a complete sweetheart, very grounded and very down to earth

Interesting points - but my mind starting racing about other "couples" previously mentioned -could they replace Bruce and Tess ?

Anton & Erin
Vincent and Flavia
James and Ola
Brendan & Natalie

Personally I think the last one could actually work.
Natalie would be excellent doing the "backstage" thing, and Brendan could probably be a good host.

Although Vincent and Flavia - so charming - but would that be too much Italian passion on one stage ? (inc Bruno)

James and Ola? Not really

Anton & Erin would be close to standard of Bruce & Tess, with someone who knows about dance doing the interviews.

Stupid thought - not worth its own thread, but thought I'd throw it out there LOL

Bearing in mind that this report was in the Daily Fail and therefore an idle bit of speculation to fill a few column inches, there's no harm in wondering which of the pros will be returning for the next series.

I suspect most of us on this forum are as interested - if not more interested - in the pros as in which celebs are picked. But the great majority of Strictly viewers couldn't care less. In a recent episode of 'Pointless', people were asked to name any dancer who had appeared in the last series of Strictly. Only three names were not mentioned at all and were therefore considered pointless - Pasha Kovalev (fair enough, as new boy); Robin Windsor (which surprised me); and Flavia Cacace (which totally surprised me).

I believe that certain pros' popularity may be their downfall. For the BBC, nobody is bigger than the show and I would bet that Ian, Matt, Darren and Lilia were dropped because they were too popular. On the other hand, I think others were dropped because they just didn't appeal to the GBP at all - Nicole, Hayley and Jared spring to mind.

So, if you want to continue as a pro dancer on Strictly - be good, but not too good. If anybody is replaced, I'd put my money on Anton and Erin, but that might just be wishful thinking...

Get rid of Aliona and replace her with Anna Krebuskaya who is a genuine red head with a non surly personality and a great choreographer who brings out the best in her celebs no matter how good or bad they are.

I thought the previous round of changes made the show worse, so I fear this round will continue the trend.

I saw that as well - was convinced that Natalie, Aliona and Katya would be pointless (particularly as surnames were required as well!), but no. I could understand Pasha due to not many people knowing his surname, could also understand Robin as I personally don't think he's made much of an impact on the show, but was shocked to see Flavia there as I thought she and Vincent were among the more popular pros and recognised pros - maybe it was her surname that people didn't know, but it is a bit strange!


I think that's right to a certain extent, but nonetheless Anton is still there and he's probably the most well-known of them all! Likewise I'd say most people could name Brendan, but very few would name the likes of Natalie or Katya. So there are obviously other factors in play as well. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ian return this year if they get a tall female celeb.


I think that's a little harsh. Why should hair colour make a difference? Ola and Kristina are not natural blondes yet I don't see you saying they should be replaced by natural blondes! Hair colour has nothing to do with dancing ability.

Secondly, have you met Aliona? If you have, then the personality comment would be fair if that's how you perceive her from experience (it's how I view another couple of pros as I have met them), but if you haven't, then that's just as bad as the poster above who called Kristina big-headed - no-one can make any personality allegation unless you're speaking from experience. If you think she comes across as surly, then say so, but please don't state it as fact when it isn't.

And to say Aliona doesn't bring out the best in her celebs good or bad is also quite harsh as she's a) got to the final, b) won and c) had a less-talented celeb who nonetheless went too soon - the same could be said of Kristina with Goldie, Erin with Rory and many others besides. Aliona seems to me to get picked up on one bad choreographical decision a lot more than most...

what on earth has hair colour got to do with anything its clear you dont like Aliona but your post is really harsh!

You've both misunderstood me sorry. ... I only mentioned the hair because Aliona was asked to change her hair to red in series 8 so the producers obviously wanted a red head. The rest I don't apologise for.

Does anyone know if Katya was asked to change her hair colour or was it her own choice? I remember when she first started on SCD she was blond as she was in the film 'Take the Lead' - then in her second series she turned brunette - I think she looks gorgeous with both colours by the way but I was wondering if she too was asked like Aliona to change - because they already had enough blondes with Natalie, Ola, Kristina and Erin's hair seems to get lighter and lighter every series with her highlights.

No I have never met Aliona but yes I find her surly. On ITT & when waiting for judges comments she often has an expression of 'whatever' on her face when she receives criticism, which I would describe as like a surly teenager.

I think she has yet to show us her choreography prowess. The routine she did for the pro girls last series wouldn't have looked out of place in a gentlemans club frankly.

I think that decisions may be made regarding the pro's after a tentative celeb line up is decided.
Decisions will then be made around height and suitability etc.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were more singles added in for showmance potential.

Bear in mind most viewers are watching for the celebs not the professionals.

I love reading posts on this an other threads, the only down side is the let's "bash Aliona" posts!

I have not met her (I would love to) and find her to be a delight to watch and if she has an "attitude" that shows on her face (this is news to me) how do you know what she is thinking, are you an expert on neuro linguistic programming (NLP) English is not her first language and it could be that she is just taking it in.

It's a shame that Aliona get such a lots of stick. I think that Aliona worked very well with Harry and his QS was sublime.

Aliona made a mistake with one celebrity (so what) She has made up for it in the next series (Matt Baker) and more recently with Harry. Who would have thought that the winners of SCD dancing 2011 would also make a clean sweep on the tour by winning 30 out of the 41 shows in 2012. Matt also won 26 shows in 2011 with his amazing Samba and Tango.

If Aliona was axed from SCD so be it, but I think that there are other on the show are past their sell by date and the two Russia males and the lovely Aliona are setting the pace.

I think I feel for anyone British/married to a Brit.
Doesn't look good for them.
And history says they don't do well in a Strictly cull.

I don't envy any of the dancers the worry this news is causing.
Best of luck to them all.

I don't dislike Aliona - so I can see it from both sides really - I find her frustrating and delightful in equal measure - I liked more of what she did with Matt than she did with Harry.

I really don't think she's in any danger of being axed for reasons that've been stated before - mostly because she's current champion.

I think the test for her will be what she can do if she gets a celebrity that's not naturally gifted - and I really do hope the producers play fair and assign her one if she's back this year - you can give a natural and popular celeb daring choreo and let your imagination run wild and still get voted through week after week but it's risky game to play with someone not so natural like she did with Rav which ultimately cost him his place.

I wonder if with Alesha gone, Matt will return.

I think her having been his partner may have meant she had a conflict of interests so may be the reason why he got a week 1 exit in series 7 and was then swiftly axed. He must be on good terms as he did return for the christmas special etc.

Aliona is defending champion and a major asset/ratings winner.

Is Aliona herself a major ratings winner ? I think that she's had two excellent partners in the last two years and that many of the votes were for them and of course the partnership, rather than just for Aliona.
I'm not knocking her though. I think that the pro dancers have a tough enough time as it is.

Strictly was a successful ratings winning show before Aliona came along All the pros are assets to the show not just Aliona - they all have their strong points and weak points even my beloved Flavia and Vincent.

And as has been said before a major part of Aliona's success has been her luck in partners for the past 2 series.

Personally I don't think any of the 'new' girls (Kristina, Aliona, Katya, Natalie) should be replaced before Erin, Flavia or Ola - the longer serving girls, but I would not single out any of them as a "major asset/ratings winner". Aliona has been extremely lucky; if she'd been partnered with Dan, Rory or Audley, she would most likely have been one of the 1st out last season.

I think the pros are not a major problem for the show. Nearly all of them will do a good job with a good celebrity. Gavin could have been seen as a poor celebrity, but Katya and Gavin were entertaining and maybe were 'manouvred' out of making the final. Same with Flavia and Russel and Anton and Nancy - no great dancing but entertaining for a while.
They do need to keep the show fresh though. Some of that can be the celebrities, but the pros also have to be imaginative, controversial and entertaining - to give the judges something to work with.

Last year there wasn't such a good selection of celebrities, the VT's were generally dire and there weren't a lot of really good pro dances. The show is fairly close to the right format now and the key things IMO are the celebrities and matching the pros and celebrities correctly.

I still say they should use mud wrestling to decide it. Producers, why don't you listen?

Jason was born in June 1968 which means he was 43 last birthday.

I did think I'd got it wrong, but he does look young for his age tbh. He looks younger than Audley

Lest we forget Brian Fortuna 2

I thought he left on his own accord to do BTF rather than being sacked?