The winner always does the Strictly Tour.

Chris Hollins was given time off Breakfast news to tour when he won.
Matt Baker delayed taking over the One show full time so he could do the tour.

Abbey, Natalie and Susanna all announced for the tour with their pro partners.

Does this mean they think Susanna will win - is she topping the viewer vote by a big margin?

No Patrick or Ashley for the tour, but they have their day jobs to go back to - or does someone know they are not going to win !!

They have no way to be sure that the winner can or will tour. At this precise moment I think Sophie is more likely to win than Abbey but isn't touring. The tour audience often 'reward' the non winners anyway so in such an even field I don't think it matters if the eventual winner doesn't tour.

Or they've just picked everyone left who's available.

I don't think the BBC are that bothered at the moment about the tour.
They'd like one of "their people" to win, be it Susanna or Patrick.

Susanna imo will win and I suspect that is why she is going on the tour. That will be more part time working for her she has only worked two mornings a week for the last 8 weeks.

I used to work at a venue that occasionally put on shows and exhibitions linked to BBC shows. Although the BBC weren't producing or organising these shows, because they were a BBC franchise, the BBC received a large part of the profits. Therefore, the BBC most definitely are interested in which celebs do the Strictly Tour, both in terms of making money and of maintaining interest in the Strictly brand.

I don't think it can be a coincidence that finalists and winners always tend to be those doing the Tour (it would be a bit of a damp squib to have a Tour without any of the finalists), especially as those celebs doing the Tour will have had to free up their schedules well in advance. While I don't believe the BBC can have complete control over which celeb wins Strictly I do believe producer orchestration has a strong influence on the voters and manipulation of the leaderboard plus the dance-off ensures the producers have exactly whom they want in the final.

Edit: never mind!

I wouldn't read too much into it. It has also been announced that Mark is taking part in the tour and he's supposedly the favourite to be knocked out this week.

The BBC have an income close to four billion. What they get from the tour "wouldn't pay for Alan Yentob's air fares." So I think it's a minor consideration.
I think they're happy if, "their people" do well in the competition each year.
It's all a bit of good PR spin.

They can influence the public, particularly with ITT and the "here they are in training" stuff.
As I mentioned elsewhere, they projected Emma Bunton as "all sweetness and light" as they wanted to keep her in at least until after CIN night in which she was to sing her "charity single."
How much CIN raises is also important to them as the benefit is good causes, but it's also a case of, "look what we're doing for charity."

More PR spin.
They obviously raise more than any other network and like people to know.

My view is that it would "damage" the tour not to have the winner involved.

Don't forget Craig stages the show now, so it is not like Tours pre 2010.
The tour now is pretty much just a showcase of the last series, but is still a big earner.

BTW is it me - or have ticket prices shot up in price this year !!!

Mark is a reasonable dancer, but falls into the "lovable tryer" category.
He is also a very experienced TV and stage performer, as is Nicky Byrne, so they are the most experienced in the celeb cast.
Last year I recall celebs talking about the Wembley show on ITT about how calm Nicky and Kimberley were, as they had performed there countless times so they had no nerves.

Mark's actually been much more competent in his steps etc than many give him credit for, and has given of his best.

Some people saw his size and that he could be funny and just pigeonholed him as a bit of a buffoon or loveable tryer ( much much more appropriate to Dave ).

The fact that he has personality and adds something to his dances again almost made that thought more in some people's minds rather than as a nice extra to a competent performance.

But he is not great, so it is probably time for him to go and unless he really finds something that will probably happen this week.

But to me, he was an obvious for the tour if available. A pretty competent dancer, but with an extra something that is likely to really engage the audiences. A bit different.

I wonder if Mark will be fit enough to do the tour after all the trouble and pain with his knees.

I agree with all these comments. I don't think you can work anything out from who is or isn't on the tour!