So, it's safe to say that the line-up this year is definitely splitting opinion. But what is your personal opinion regarding the Class of 2015? Do you love it, hate it, or think it's positively 'bleh'? Vote away!

(poll incoming)

It's not splitting opinion, it's just a case of a vocal minority who would have whinged about it anyway unless the lineup included Barack Obama, Stephen Fry, the Dalai Lama, Benedict Cumberbatch and Helen Mirren. It's about as good a lineup as you're going to get for a celebrity talent show that's now had over 160 contestants, certainly not as strong as 2010-12 but largely recognisable and a good mix of names. It's certainly better than the previous two years or 2009, and at least on a par with the first six series.

Good. The male cast in particular is brilliant (Peter, Iwan, Anthony, Jay and even Ainsley are really holding my interest) but the female line-up. although probably very good at dancing, all seem a bit samey to me.

On the plus side, I'd heard of everyone bar Katie Derham and there's no obvious winner/first out.

Given that all five options have been voted for, I disagree. Besides, I've seen a large number of people complaining in the comment sections of DS articles about how It's the 'WORST CAST EVAH' so I'd say slightly more than a minority.

Otherwise, great post and I agree completely.

No obvious joke celeb, good age range and no one slotted for immediate physical danger due to poor health. Most folks are reasonably recognisable for something other than who they married.

Not great, not terrible, just the right side of decent.

I actually prefer the female cast. The males are still good but personally let down for me by Jay & Daniel. Now if Siva had been the designated Wanted member, I'd be over the moon!

The inclusion of Anthony makes up for those two tho'...

Good, but the female line up looks far much better than the male line up.

Bump.

I voted for "Fantastic", as while not perfect it's still the strongest for a couple of years, and there's a good mix of obvious leaderboard toppers (Jay, Kirsty, Jamelia, Helen, Georgia, Kellie), those who have the capacity to surprise with the right dance (Katie, Anita, Ainsley, Iwan), solid leaderboard middlers (Carol, Peter, Daniel, Anthony) and Jeremy Vine (Jeremy).

I voted 'decent'.

I don't know who the majority of them are (I don't watch much TV other than CBeebies these days!), but that won't matter once the show starts.

I'm interested to see how Ainsley and Jeremy do, because they are the contestants from the list who I most want to watch.

However, they don't have the same pull for me as Tim Wonnacott, Dave Myers, and Deborah Meaden, etc. - those three would individually be enough to make me tune in, but now I'm into the show, so would tune in anyway unless I really didn't take to any of the contestants.

Besides, some years my favourites can be people I wasn't really aware of before the show. So, I keep an open mind!

Fantastic due to Kirsty Gallacher, I just hope she can dance.

I don't like giving a verdict when I have little or no evidence to go on.

Anthony Ogogo is 26 and looks super fit and there is a picture of him at a ballet class in 2012.
http://pappzd.com/wp-content/uploads...ogo-ballet.jpg

That gives one impression. He has had a number of operations, on his shoulder and both Achilles.
http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/polopol..._630/image.jpg

He has been training for the group dance with his arm in a sling. So on the one hand he might have a lot of potential - on the other, his injuries may hamper him considerably.

I am puzzled how the producer decided that he was ready for the show. Maybe he will be OK, but at the moment it looks like they should have had a clause that if he wasn't fit enough there would be a last minute replacement.

I'm hoping he will be able to participate properly and it would be even better if he has dance potential because as usual, the girls are looking like a much stronger line-up than the men. I'd rate it a good line-up if that was the case, but only decent if he cannot participate fully.

It's not bad and will probably be very competitive this year as there's no obvious Greg Wallace/Fiona Philips style car crash contestant. Even Anton might get somebody who isn't completely useless this year.

As far as I'm concerned, it's a stellar line-up. This is based on my being able to recognise 11 out of the 15, which must be something of a record for me. But I'm less concerned about their position on the red carpet of fame and more concerned about how they will dance, interact with their professional partners and entertain me on a Saturday night.

Given that my favourites in previous years have been people I'd never heard of when their names were announced, I shall probably end up rooting for one of the soap stars or that guy from a boy-band.

Bring it on!

So it turns out that around 8 in 10 people would describe the line-up as at least "decent", and more than half as at least "good". Who'd have thought?

I'm not sure I agree it's a stellar line-up, but who can tell before they actually start? I'm underwhelmed (sort of) by those I've heard of, so more interested in those I don't know.

But I absolutely agree with your 2nd paragraph. What they do in the show is far more important than who they are!