We've had one every year since John Seargeant- a contestant who despite having little to no natural aptitude for dance, are taken to the bosom of the nation.

We have Fern Britton, who looks like she has signed up, but I see her having more ability (and perhaps an inflated sense of her own ego?)

My tips would be Clarissa Dickson Wright (a bombastic, formidable chef), Lembit Opik (token politician and one with enough of a reputation to be worth tuning in for) or Ruby Wax (a comedian who I don't think would take anything the show threw at her lying down!)

Who would your picks be?

I think if we do get Fern and if she gets James or Brendan, she'll be the one having meltdowns every week!!

I think we'll (sadly) have Christopher Biggins on at one point!

That wouldn't surprise me at all- he'd be very Russell Grant I imagine.

Strictly never used to have Celebs who'd done other Reality TV but they've definitely relaxed that policy now.

The actress who played Heather in Eastenders (Cheryl Fergison)????

Following last year's trait, I think we'll have a very bad comedy contestant and someone who has less serious routines but is fairly good... I guessed Fatima Whitbread and Gillian Wright from EastEnders.

And I don't think Fern would be that bad, she was in the top three of her Let's Dance heat (out of six, admittedly) and didn't look too awful on the Christmas special.

Christopher Biggins!!!! I Love Him! :d

Going by your username... are you Christopher Biggins by any chance?

We don't need any comedy contestants - ESPECIALLY Biggins. I wouldn't watch until I knew he'd gone.

One (or both) of the Hairy Bikers could be quite funny!

As long as they're knocked out before the Rumba.

They could do a double dance with their partners. The only Rumba in History done by two people with beards! I can see it now!

Lol that has made my night , they would be hilarious

Fern Britton has quite a bit of dance experience... there's a clip of her in her early TV days doing a very slick solo tap dance routine somewhere on youtube. If she has kept up any type of dancing/ keep fit - she could potentially be quite good - her Christmas Special jive with Matthew Cutler wasn't too awful.

I don't want to see any comedy contestants at all because it's a big strain on their pro partner. I'd rather see ALL the celebs making an equal effort to entertain and to support their pro dancer. What I don't like to see is celebs with the attitude that they don't need to make any effort and the pro is just there to make them look good and help them enhance their own career.

Me either but something tells me that the comedy contestants are here to stay....

Unfortunately, the producers (new and old) seem to think that we NEED (and WANT) to see comedy as part of this show...

It could be argued that Russell and Rory were there as the comedy contestants last year..... Remember Nancy thought she was the best ever dancer (and her friends had told her so...) [something tells me that Nancy's friends had the last laugh]....

^^ this

They dont need a comedy contestant but do need celebs wit a sense of humour.

Phil Tufnell was one, as was Austin healey. Alesha, Bill Turnbull etc.

eg.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4pttCEY1Xs

How I miss Lilia Aliona could certainly learn a lot from her on how to teach and nurture a not naturally gifted celeb What an amazing job Lilia did with Matt Dawson

Not sure where that skill went when she had Dominic Littlewood, lol

haha Christopher Biggins would be jokes. What about Alan Carr, Paul O'Grady or Beth Ditto LOL x

Erm you're joking aren't you Dominic was virtually unteachable - an arrogant creep that thought he knew everything! It's amazing she was able to put up with him! Nobody could have done anymore than she did with him! Infact I think it was Lilia's skill in teaching and making him appear like a 'cheeky chappy' that kept him in a few weeks longer than he should have been!

Lilia had a remarkable record in teaching and doing well with non gifted celebs - Aled Jones, Matt Dawson, Darren Gough - even the celebs she didn't get far with - she taught them well and they all spoke highly of her

Bruce would be natuarally comical but his ballroom would be just as lacking as previous comedy turns

We have missed out on some of the comedy that can come from the training room. Strictly used to have someone who could edit the training clips very well. I dont know if that person is still around but they need someone like that and could cut down on the scripted comedy clips that they made last year.
The hit rate on those was low and it must have taken a lot of time, trouble and expense to make them. They need someone who can bin the ones that wont work before they are made.

Good ingredients for comedy are a determined pro trying to teach someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and is trying to have a go at the dancing. Chemistry also helps.
Katya was one of the pros with the most potential for comedy. Sadly....no more!

We don't need any "comedy" contestants and certainly NOT Biggins

John Prescott would be amaze, so would George Osbourne.