I would have loved him with Natalie *sob*, but I'm counting Aliona as the lesser of some evils when it comes to the pairing, Jay and Karen would have been way, way worse for me, and him and Ola as, although I've never had a problem with her or her hubbie, her choreography is dreadfully tired IMO

I would think they'd explore the travel arrangements/limitations with all the pros prior to anyone meeting anyone or at least discuss it with one or two 'most likely'.

I think they have an idea of who they want to put together well ahead. It's my guess they use the meet and greet to explore those possibilities and the pros and celebs may have a fair idea who is likely, but I don't think they know for sure until the reveal. Didn't Lisa Riley say she was 'meant' to be with another dancer (Artem?) and then the producers saw how well she and Robin got on at rehearsals and switched them last minute?

The celebs go for dress fittings well before the meet and greet, I think - maybe as soon as they sign up?? - and I don't think the pros get involved at that stage. We often hear that changes are made in the week before the dance.

Ann specifically stated in her autobiography that she did not know who she'd be partnered with.

And they seemed to take height into account to a greater extent back then, so Penny must have known Ian was her only credible partner, as would Jodie Kidd.

That's true but they did generally do individual VT's supposedly meeting each other for the first time which were complete shams. I can't specifically remember Penny and Ian's. I do seem to recall Brendan and Kelly Brook's 'first meeting' being controversial since it was well known they knew each other before SCD (whether or not they were aware they were partnered up) and by the time of Lisa Snowden they didn't pretend they hadn't met before Strictly.

Daniel seems like a lovely man so maybe he's just the person for Kristina after all the recent controversy. And I'm hoping that he'll bring out her softer side so we'll have less of the "Krotch in your face" type Koreography.

Thank you lovely fern3 for staying up late to post! I hope it wasn't too hot and uncomfortable in your mole costume all that time.

Daniel & Kristina...I am really pleased with this pairing , I can't stand either of them...hope he bores the pants off her (metaphorically speaking) with his sanctimonious voice. They are a match made in heaven and made for my FF finger on sky+. LOL

Oh yes, Jay with Karen would have been total disaster ... no way could I have ever voted for them ............and much as I love Ola, I agree about the choreo aspect there.
Having said that, watch her surprise us all with new, innovative stuff !

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Last edited by Amethyzt : 03-09-2015 at 13:49

ha ha ... nothing against DoD particularly but wont miss him either so an early exit for K would be great.....
failing that, they can be my nibbles and wine refill break

I'd like to be able to think that the pros still have a lot of say in their theme, music and choreography, but I think that is often not the case. I can't imagine the pros have got worse at matching music to the dance over the last few years.

Hahahahahaha I can't believe I missed this post last night Someone who can't read this obviously went to bed in a foul mood.....

On a side note I'm glad to hear the reports that Anton was over the moon at being paired with Katie Derham - I can imagine she's the type of elegant and sophisticated celeb partner he's always wanted and if Katie has also said she want to be partnered with him then hopefully it should be a good partnership. I hope Anton pulls his socks up this series because she looks like his best partner since Laila. I'm sure they'll do some lovely ballroom......latin I hope he gets some help in......

I'm also looking forward to seeing the first two pairs you mentioned. They are all beautifully matched and will look wonderful together. Let's hope they have the talent to pull it off. It could be fantastic fun!

Peter and Janette will be my Ultra Chav couple. I don't dislike either one of them but both have a habit of over-doing everything and trying way too hard to be bright and bubbly. I predict self combustion and some hilariously bad routines.

Oddly enough your response to the above post was the same as mine, and we both share the same hopes for dear old Anton!

Derham is a thoroughly nice and intelligent woman. She'll make the best of it and will actually try. Let's hope he isn't lazy and makes the most of this partnership. For the last few SCDs he did rather look as though he couldn't give a damn!

I can imagine Iwan slotting in around the Roger Black level - so fear a ballroom full of pivots and Latin with Iwan with shirt off (amid the usual excitement in ITT) with knee slides, starfish and that odd skirt fluffing move. And possibly more pivots.

I made 3 correct guesses although the 3 were fairly predictable. I'm looking forward to Daniel and Kristina

Don't hold your breath! Innovative is not in her dance vocab and she teaches on autopilot. SCD is all about Ola.

If there is a miraculous change I owe you. Are we talking bubbles or chocolate?

I'm another one who would have loved to have seen Jay paired with Natalie, but I'm not disappointed to see him with Aliona, and there are a number of pros I would have been disappointed to see him with.

Given that Ainsley and Jeremy are both apparently a couple of inches taller than Jay, it was inevitable that Natalie, as the tallest female pro, would be paired with one of them.

Bubbles definately......... though I think it will probably be me paying you !

Pivot-watch starts here

You forgot the cat suit

dont forget the drunken sailors in the jive

As much as I'm not a fan of Anton, I know he's popular so on that score I'm glad he was paired with Katie...and he doesn't have the excuse that he's got the 'joke act' this year, so I'm looking forward to seeing if he can step up to the plate with a hard working, intelligent, attractive woman like Katie

The double standards from some posters are hilarious. Whine constantly about celebs they don't like but as soon as anyone dares to speak out against their darling it's handbags at dawn.

If Katie takes to Ballroom as she could, and Anton works extra hard, and they come across well enough to the public that they last a fair while...

...could, dear God, an Anton 10 be possible? I'm not sure I could cope, I'd become one of those rare "21 year old succumbs to freak heart attack" Daily Mail articles.