I definitely get the impression that people under contract to the BBC (eg Casualty/Holby City/Eastenders actors, some newsreaders and presenters) get pressured into doing Strictly. I thought Patrick was doing it under duress last year and it wouldn't surprise me if Jake and Sunetra, and maybe even Tim, is too. Sunetra joked about being 'bullied' into doing Strictly by the people she knew and I wondered, as with a lot of throwaway, jokey comments, there might be a grain of truth to it.

I think this is definitely true - Kerplunk said as much, I believe. And nothing on earth could convince me that Bill Turnbull had an aching passion to do a besequinned cha-cha live on prime time tv and willingly leapt at the chance. I guess the beeb feels that they need to get a decent proportion of 'their' people in there to stem to tide of ITV bods and wannabes.

Or Chris Hollins, to be fair
Sian Williams must have had a good get out clause, because I think they would have loved to have her as a contestant.

I think it's probably an ideal cross-over - get someone from a fairly popular show (and Bargain Hunt and Masterchef are popular in their particular time slots) and you get their viewers watching Strictly and Strictly viewers potentially tuning into their shows if they take to them well enough*. I think it's also why you get the soap actors who are in the middle of a big plot line taking part. Cross pollination

(* Given that Masterchef person they've managed to shang-hi is Greg the Greedy Grocer - is that 3G? - I wonder if Masterchef will find viewing figures actually go down I guess he is the only person under a full time BBC contract on the show? Everyone else (Marcus Wareing now, Monica, JontyRhodes) has an actual proper day job?

He'd have been fantastic, especially if he was in full beard/edge of a nervous breakdown/made man staring over a hedge mode

Haven't seen the launch show yet, but I've tried to fancy Thom, just can't, not for me, another year of no totty for AK

Ooh, I like that. I shall refer to Gregg as 3G, ongoing.

I hadn't thought of it that way, regarding BBC pressuring people into doing the show. I'd be out with the microscope and/lemon juice, checking my contract for miniscule print/invisible ink before I signed. Tim has very successful daytime tv shows and doesn't seem one for selling himself out for publicity, so it must be to try and push for more viewers. As soon as I told my dear old mum he was appearing, (she being a big fan of his) she said she was going to avidly glue herself to Strictly, having lost interest these last few years.

3G is definitely good for Gregg. It could stand for so many things.

Or maybe we will have to upgrade him to 4G? Greedy Gropey Grocer Gregg? Feel free to add more.

Just watching the show now, why did no one warn me there was so much Brucie, I had lost the zapper down the back of the sofa and could not FF, I need therapy:

Haven't seen the launch show yet, and may not bother, but a quick question, is TTF's sister showing signs of being as annoying as he is?

EDIT

Whoops forgot where I was!

Yes she seems to be the one who taught him how to go OTT.

oooh one of my favourite threads is back

Her reaction to her pairing was more OTT than TTF last year....

I agree with Fatskia in that someone might have said to be OTT.

Although I don't think Tristan was THAT OTT....

I don't think there were many blue Smarties left in the bowl in the green room, put it that way.

Oh god, my worst fears confirmed, there's two of them now

So, the Launch Show, eh?

Well...

Yes...

Erm...

Quite...

At least Iveta has a promising one. Shame Natalie has been Erinned. I would have loved her to get a contender of some sorts after not competing last year. She´ll do fine with Tim, but still a shame.

Also, is `Trent Whiddon` Australian for `do not feed me`? Inquiring minds want to know.

So obviously as tiny tree frog is her brother, Joanne is forever going to be Frogmella.

Trent is the 10 yr old.

Gregg is 3G or 4G depending on his hands.

There are several contenders for BOTS this year, Frankie, Pixie and Simon

Tim is a potential DOT as are Scott,Judy and Jennifer.

Steve and Jake look terrified.

Thom weirdly unsexy and Mark a TOWIE person so best ignored unless he shows some personality.

Tristram looks ok other than the tattoo which sort of looks unfinished. Did he chicken out half way?

Toss managed to say Ola right once in the three times she said it, every year it goes on my admiration for Ola is increased for not running screaming O L A around the studio. I don't even notice a tick .

And that's before you factor in Pixie and Trent, our resident Midwich Cuckoos.

I had to look up Midwich Cuckoo, but yes, quite accurate.

I prefer Trixie as a name though - the couple is just as faux cutesy with steel core as most people I've encountered with that name.

Edit: Or a little moptop dog. One of those yappy wee things supposed to be carried everywhere.

The Krankies is also a possiblity.

They have similar appeal to said classy duo and instil that sort of feeling in me.

The immediate reaction here was, "Oh good grief, it's the Stepford Children!"

But yes, Midwich Cuckoos for sure.

Hey DOTs, love what you've done with the place this year - the bar looks beautifully (and very imaginatively!) stocked and all the cushions have been well and truly plumped. Hostesses with the mostests indeed.

I'm heading towards Flowers in the Attic, but yes, Midwich Cuckoos as well

Midwich Cuckoos... could be an interesting new Halloween dance

Is it wrong to have mentally cast Len as Gordan Zellaby?

Well, Pixie was introduced to us as a slightly under dressed canary

Are you trying to say she killed Big Bird and then dressed herself in his plumage?