Wow nope that's a new one! Another excellent signing - impressive if true which I'm guessing it is given the coverage of the article?

Not after that Charleston - an iconcic dance, it is up there with Tomilla's showdance and Maren's AT and salsa

Oh wow! Thanks.

There'll be a battle between her and Vanessa as to who'll get Anton. Deborah might get Pasha, actually.

another one we'd talked about a few pages ago!

Deborah Meaden!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...m-fortune.html

No!

And huzzah- I like Deborah (and its about time we had a Dragon!)

Another biggish name signing- I love the diversity in the cast so far, and an entrepreneur adds to that.

She's also just followed Rachel Riley on Twitter and has been in London today for something that's "fun but hard work" - looks like she's a definite.

I think it's fair to say that our female line-up is:
Abbey Clancey (model/TV presenter/WAG, 27)
Deborah Meaden (businesswoman/Dragon, 54)
Fiona Fullerton (actress, 56)
Natalie Gumede (Corrie actress, 29)
Rachel Riley (Countdown presenter, 27)
Sophie Ellis-Bextor (singer, 34)
Susanna Reid (Breakfast presenter, 42)
Vanessa Feltz (TV/radio host, 51)

I hope she gets to use a trampoline in her dances a la Let's Dance for Comic Relief.

Good signing!

I'm glad we've got another older woman from a slightly different background in the cast.

I've always wanted Peter Jones to do a full series, but I'm sure Deborah will definitely make interesting viewing!

So, could our female line-up be-

Deborah Meaden- Dragons Den Entrepreneur
Fiona Fullerton- Bond Girl
Vanessa Feltz- Broadcaster
Susanna Reid- BBC Breakfast Host
Sophie Ellix Bextor- Pop Singer
Natalie Gumede- Actress
Abbey Clancy- Model
Rachel Riley- Countdown Co-Host


I'm starting to think Fiona isn't very likely

I'm really excited about Deborah - glad to have a bit of a surprise there. I'm more than a bit perturbed about the first picture in that article though.

She's still being mentioned in articles (including the Deborah Meaden one), so I think she's in with a shot.

I wonder if one of the male celebs is also a Dragon and that will be the big competitive story that the show will push - would either be Theo or Peter.

Agreed!

I doubt Fiona is in. Her name has only really been kept alive by this forum.

I think Pasha is more likely as I have a feeling they'd want her to get as far as possible and not put her with the (perceived) 'joke' pro.

How I'd pair them-

Fiona & Anton
Deborah & Kevin
Vanessa & James
Susanna & Pasha
Sophie & Robin
Natalie & Brendan
Abbey & Aljaz
Rachel & Artem

I am going to go along with that line up - and this is how i would pair them

Deborah Meaden- Dragons Den Entrepreneur.......Anton
Fiona Fullerton- Bond Girl....................Pasha
Vanessa Feltz- Broadcaster.................James
Susanna Reid- BBC Breakfast Host......Kevin
Sophie Ellix Bextor- Pop Singer............Brendan
Natalie Gumede- Actress.....................Artem
Abbey Clancy- Model..........................Aljaz
Rachel Riley- Countdown Co-Host........Robin

I'm starting to think mystery blonde could either have been Iveta or a weird angled Abbey.

I'd put them:

Abbey & Brendan
Deborah & Pasha
Fiona & Anton
Natalie & Robin
Rachel & Artem
Sophie & Alijaz
Susanna & Kevin
Vanessa & James

Although part of me does want to see the reaction if James gets yet another favourite...

Abbey & Robin
Deborah & Pasha
Fiona & Brendan
Natalie & Artem
Rachel & Anton
Sophie & Alijaz
Susanna & Kevin
Vanessa & James

I can't find enough tall males to do my own pairings.

Deborah is a brilliant signing though. She's my favourite Dragon (after Kelly), but I think Kelly would be a bit too 'new' to join SCD.

Imagine the hair-off with Natalie Gumede that never was.

Yeah, I reckon that's a really decent female line-up; a lot of diversity, and I'd guess the general public are at least dimly aware of at least most, if not all, of them. Last year was always going to be difficult to live up to but they've done a good job there.