Who was relatively unknown before Strictly and then became way more famous and successful?


Tom Chambers?

I think Kara Tointon did well so did Alysha Dixon.

Alesha & Jill. I think Natasha & Susanna both got a big bucks move after it as well.

Natasha and Susanna both defected from the BBC in the aftermath of winning Strictly and it's had a serious negative impact on both their careers.

Matt Baker got the regular presenter of the One Show gig because of Strictly - IIRC he'd been passed over for it before because of doubts as to how popular he was and whether he'd be able to juggle it with his Countryfile commitments.

Alesha Dixon had the biggest career turnaround, no one has really come close to have done as well as her post strictly.

I hope Pixie does.

She was only given the job because Simon wanted to get one over on Strictly. Her music career certainly didn't flourish.

Well on the back of her appearance on Strictly she got the job as judge, then she got the BGT gig which she is doing brilliantly on... is she wasn't Simon would have got rid by now. She is definitely on mega bucks that's for sure

I think that, relative to their ages and prospects, some of the older, duffer contestants have done very well out of Strictly stints. Ann Widdecombe has, I believe, a fairly steady flow of pantomime, cruise appearances and chat shows since Strictly; given her political and personal reputation was hardly attractive or 'fun', the programme was a very successful way of softening her image sufficiently to provide steady income in 'retirement'. John Sergeant got a tv series, book deals and, like Widdecombe, lots of cruise and other talk gigs, which I think would have been harder on the back of his political journalism career.

I think she, or those who manage her, have been very astute. She was a very average singer and performer - she's made little beyond a lovely face go a very long way.

A lot of money but still no credibility.

She had a brief music career which she wouldn't have had without SCD. I really like Alesha as a person but she's got a voice like foghorn so she was never going to last as a singer

Ricky Whittle is now a fandom fave on a genre show in a America so I think that's a big move from Hollyoaks.

Kara Tointon is now consistently working in theatre, tv and film which she wasn't after she left Eastenders pre-Strictly.

And of course Alesha got an album and two judging roles on primetime TV.

Then there's the Christine Bleakly and Susanna Reid making big buck moves to rival channels.

I remember her in the first series of Teachers and also on Eastenders, but I haven't seen anything of her since. MInd you, I'm not a theatre buff.

She'll be appearing in a main role of series three of Mr Selfridge with her sister, Hannah next year.

Was Hannah the girl in the 'Warwick University' episode of the Inbetweeners? I know she was a Tointon.

Kara will be in the next series of Mr Selfridge.

I don't see much theatre in London so haven't got to see her in those projects, so will be nice to see her on TV for presumably most of the series. Her real life sister will also play her onscreen sister.

I think Kara has appeared in some appearances on TV since eastenders and in between theatre. I randomly saw her in a TV show (can't remember the name now) as a random character (as opposed to a re-occurring one). Also she was in bed in a random thing alongside johnny Vegas (I think it was him).

She was in an episode where she went to visit her sister (who was at university) and that same episode also had that funny moment where Simon couldn't get an erection when they were in bed. She's in more than one episode in the Inbetweeners, and she dated the guy that plays Simon in real life.

She's prob appeared on TV (of late) more often than Kara. She was also a witch in that itv show with the girl that plays Stacey in eastenders. And also appeared in The Hour I think too, as well as Midsommer.

Jason Donovan was another who's career had well and truly petered out, from what I can tell he is consistently in the West End now in various shows!, but of course he was in the jungle on ... I'm a Celeb.. as well so not sure which programme did his career the best or maybe it was a combination of the two of them eh!......

Yeah, I remember it well. A real TV goof as there's no university in Warwick town. It's actually in Coventry (County of Warwick).

She was in a couple of episodes of Lewis recently and in between theatre roles she was also in a couple of films - Last Passenger with Dougray Scott and the remake of The Sweeney. I think at the moment she's filming a part in Woody - a new comedy with Bradley Walsh which is on next year.

BIB, I meant to see that, completely forgot.

The Sweeney, sounds interesting.

It was absolute pap imo but a nice surprise to see Kara in it when I didn't know she was in it.

I saw it when it came on Sky and was really pleasantly surprised. It had a very small budget but was really good, especially as I've always liked Dougray Scott as well

Oh no
I'll still try see it though.

As separate, Natalie Gumede will be in Doctor Who (don't think as a permanent character). That's quite good though even if just for an episode considering Doctor Who is Worldwide sold, and no doubt a good stand out name on the CV.