Good morning Britain revealed the first contestant is

Jeremy Vine

Didn't expect that one. Not overly blown away but still, fine with that name so far lol.

Could have been worse, could have been Tim!! 😄

Any word on when the next announcement is?

I hope Judith goes to watch she always says she enjoys it when she is on eggheads

Can't stand the guy.. Will definitely be fast forwarding through his bits.

i likw him - enjoy his radio programme

Why not both? We haven't had siblings before... Tim would be awful, but funny. Jeremy will just be awful methinks (will be very happy to be proven wrong though).

His ego is big enough as it is.

I like him, so all good so far for me

ISTR Jeremy dressing up as Frank'n'furter for Chiildren in Need. Agree that Tim would be good for strictly too. i can see Jeremy loving the latin and finding the ballroom difficult. I think Jeremy is quite tall so this would need to be taken into account for the sake of his partner.

I'd tune in to see Tim Vine on Strictly and I've not watched since they ditched Sargent

I am really pleased he will be dancing, he is tall I hope they do not give him little Ola.

Sargent walked though:no other contestant has walked voluntarily, but bereavement and injury have taken their toll.

Goodness me - what's Jeremy Vine thinking?

That's Natalie sorted then eh!..........

A decent fee for at most a month's work and an enjoyable experience into the bargain. It's no great surprise that it gets more difficult each year to recruit 'the cast' when the obvious candidates have already had a go, even Dame Cilla might have been persuaded if things had been different.

I feel the same way about that actually and there are always going to be celebrities that are going to keep turning it down too. I do agree that if Cilla had been in better health, she would have done it.

Back to the topic though, i did generally think that the first confirmed contestant was going to be Carol Kirkwood. I really did not expect Jeremy Vine's name to be announced on Chris Evans' breakfast show. This will be really interesting to see how he gets on and who he will come up against.

I was completely underwhelmed by that announcement. I mean, he's what I would describe as definitely "Marmite."
The BBC always "dragoon," one or two of "their own," who they think have a chance of doing well. They don't have to win, just be "around" so that they can promote the series in various ways, for the length of time they are there. I wonder if they think he's a suitable candidate?

I heard Richard Madeley was in the running

God, between Jeremy and Richard Madeley, I'd choose Jeremy every time...unless they decide in their cruelty to inflict Richard on us as well.

He should do OK, provided they don't do an Andrew Castle on him and put him with a height mismatch.

I would love to see Richard Madeley on there!..... I think he is great..................

Time to google; I absolutely have no idea who this man is .I find it a bit odd that this announcement has a few replies.

Probably because we've somehow ended up with it being talked about across 3 threads? Most of it seems to be going on in the 'who do we think' thread.

I thought Jamelia was the first confirmed contestant.