Just pondering the pro line-up situation - Ola, Kristina, Tristan and Aliona are the ones who are definitely off, yeah?

It should be 8 male and 7 female celebrities this year, so if there are no more exits to be announced that'd give us:

Janette, Karen, Natalie, Oti - four new female pros? (Might they bump Joanne back to partnering a celebrity?)
Aljaz, Anton, Brendan, Giovanni, Gleb, Kevin, Pasha - potentially no new male pros needed this year?

I posted elsewhere that Jodi Prenger (in a Q&A) said that she helps "audition the pro dancers for Strictly".

So following her twitter feed might give some clues as to whom is being auditioned male-wise.

Logically there must also be someone (male celeb) who auditions with the female Pro's as well, so if the sharp eyed forumites were to discover who that is - then their twitter feed might indicate some dancers who were being considered.

Johnny Ball said that he was "tested" by Flavia in an audition, so it seems to be both parts that are tested out.

Aliona is apparently coming back but I think she'll be in a similar position as Joanne Clifton.

All Aliona said is that she was open to working with Strictly in some way other than partnering a celebrity.

Surely Jo Clifton will get a celeb partner this year ?

Perhaps Aliona will take part in ITT and pro routines as Jo did last season !

Yeah, would much rather prefer that then seeing her waste her talents on a no hoper which she is bound to get if she does return, she will definitely not have a celebrity she does not want that, as she said.

I wish for Artem to come back he has done his stint with DWTS and his fantastic dancing is needed back on the show.

We need a bit of spice back on the screen lacking somewhat with the likes of Kevin Anton and Brendon for me. I like Gleb and Aljaz but still something missing.

Agree don't mind Kevin but Anton and Brendon are well past their best.

Both Pixie Lott and Kimberly Walsh are in the audience at Dynamo Live just watching it on Television and was wondering what Dynamo would be like as a Strictly contestant, apologies for initially posting on the songs wish list by accident.

Sara Cox is getting quite a bit of TV space now, she fronted the Pottery thing and is now on BBC2 in the evenings.

She did the C'mas special a few years ago, I wonder if she may one day do a full series, I assumed her R2 Saturday show is recorded?

That is going to cause a rift into the space/time continuum !!

Sara Cox on strictly, live on TV until about 8pm
Then she is at the Strictly studios until about 11pm, recording the results show which everybody pretends is being broadcast live at 7PM on Sunday Night.

Meanwhile she is also on Radio 2 from 10pm on Saturday night - doing her 80's radio show which everyone pretends is being broadcast live. (Sometimes it has been live - I texted in once and she read it out, so I know that show was Live)

By my reckoning she is going to be in 2 places at once on at least 2 occasions over the weekend

If the Universe crumples in on itself - don't say I didn't warn you !!

Yeah, perhaps not my best thought out suggestion

Ha, well Sara Cox's show has now been switched to Friday nights - you heard it first here folks

Michael McIntyre would be great as he is a great mover anyway and if he could learn the steps he would be great to watch even for a few weeks. His sense of fun and observation comedy in whatever situation he is in would make him so watchable. I have seem him live several times and he is much shorter than TV makes him appear so hIs professional partner would have to be even shorter, say Janette or Joanne.

Michelle Keegan
Matt Johnson
Helen Skelton
Ryan Thomas
Fiona Bruce
Martin Kemp
Angela Griffin
Greg Rutherford
Shona McGarty
Reggie Yates
Ruth Langsford
Anthony Joshua
Vanessa White
Danny Care
Cheryl Baker
James Hill

I think that Joleon Lescott will be available for a show as I cannot see Aston Villa keeping him after the end of the season following his comments after their relegation.