Apologies if this has been discussed before but I don't tend to visit much before the series starts I was just thinking about the shake up of the pros this year. I know Artem has gone back to the states (fair enough), Robin is injured (unfortunate, but fair enough) and James is...well...James. I was thinking more about why Anya wasn't asked back and why we got Joanne instead. I thought Anya did a very good job with Patrick last year and would have liked to have seen how she would have got on with a young pro like Simon or Mark. For some reason she's not been given the chance but the vaguely scary looking Joanne is involved. Is it seen as some sort of coup to have the whole Clifton clan in one place? I understand Joanne is very successful in her field but I don't get why she was chosen over another who already had a decent history on the show.

Aside from my wonderings, I'm utterly delighted Strictly is back and am looking forward to seeing Zoe and her studio in all their glittery glory on Monday

Kevin is the Beeb's new golden boy. God help us. His sister looks aggressive, particularly up against the pasty, milquetoast Kevin.

However, the almighty Beeb has decided and so we're stuck with third-rate pro's

Are you calling the Cliftons 3rd rate Pro's? Unbelievable rubbish. There are other Pro's that I perhaps MAY put in that category, but certainly not Jo and Kevin.

Joanne is the current world champion. You would be mad not to make room for her!

Yeah former british champion and world champion certainly "third rate."

Give me a break!

Do not understand the bizarre vendetta some members of DS have against the Cliftons.

Annya was involved with the SYTYCD show and tour in the states which did not finnish till after SCD pairings made so could not comit to the show she is however now over and involved with choreography

To call the cliftons third rate is so not so, unless you call 4 times uk and euro latin champ (kevin) and current world ballroom showdance champ (JO) third rate - yes there are some third rate dancers on show but these two are not some of them

Well said Bendy. We can certainly think of one...

As soon as Joanne announced her retirement I knew there was a high chance of BBC adding her to the line up. I think they see adding her to the line up as a bit of a coup considering she has 'current world champion' to her name. Having Clifton in her surname is just an added bonus, but she is most definitely not there because of it.

I do miss Anya and would have preferred her there instead of one or two others, but at least she's still vaguely involved with the show.

I liked Anya very much too but she was a last minute replacement for a British born pro Emma Slater last year who was offered a place on Strictly but instead decided to remain in the USA and accept a promotion on DWTS from troupe dancer to partnering a celeb /competing pro. I think Anya was considered shy and perhaps lacking in personality which is why she wasn't included in the line up this year but instead is on the choreography team - personally I would have liked to seen her back with a more outgoing celeb perhaps someone like Steve Blackshall then I think we could have seen some personality from her.

I think Joanne was invited because they really needed a British born female pro - there was an article in one of tabloids last year with xenophobic undertones about all the 'foreign' dancers on strictly - and I guess because Joanne's brother is also on the show they can build this sibling rivalry thing up - although I'm not sure they're going to be able to do that this year because well.....how can I say this politely....it looks like Joanne doesn't have the most talented celeb partner lol....it's early days though and perhaps Scott will be better in ballroom. She is a world champion in ballroom showdance so she should have the right credentials for the show but IMO her first dance with Scott wasn't very well choreographed...it's early days though so perhaps she needs some time to settle in and perhaps Scott just couldn't get to grips with Latin and he'll be better in the Ballroom.

I genuinely loved Anya as a dancer. I find her so enthralling to watch. Genuinely gutted she's not in it this year - I do hope she'll be back one day.

100% agreeing with your points.

Joanne needs to be given a chance to prove herself and can not be judged solely on her first choreography. People come to uninformed conclusions too quicly, and I think 50% of the equation is your partner, and to be honest Mr Mills is rubbish .

I also agree that Joanne first choreography was poor and a little childish as I have stated earlier, but there's no denying that her credentials are excellent and I am confident she will come through in time.

I get the impression that these days a pro has to make an impact from the very start, otherwise you don't get asked back. I remember liking Anya, but sadly I would be hard pushed now to recall what she actually looked like (other than she had long dark hair).

Joanne seems to have a very bubbly personality and I think Scott will stay longer than people imagine because he won the poll to be on the front of the RT. Somebody must have been voting for him, probably mainly his R1 listeners and as he's still doing his day job, he has a hug captive audience to drum up votes from. On that basis I think Joanne will get another chance next year.

Definitely think the producers will love the idea of sibling rivalry along the lines of Derek and Julianne Hough on DWTS, especially a brother and sister with strong regional accents and big personalities.

How many threads have we seen in the past asking why there are not more home grown pros on the show? Well, we've got more now.

Personally, it's Tristan I want to see back next year and hopefully it won't be at the expense of Brendan or Aljaz.

agree Buddy and lets face it Anton should consider retiring leaving room for tristan

I could live with that, although I like the set role he's got on the show these days and I would miss him too.