I noticed Joanne 'front and centre' in the upstairs bit where Claudia presents in this weekend's show.

I don't dislike her or anything...just wondered why she was there - and so prominently - when she doesn't have a partner in the show this year? I haven't seen it with any of the other supporting dancers.

Does she provide secondary coaching to the celebs or something?

I read in a post here (sorry I don't remember the poster's name) that they had planned to have 8 male celebrities but it didn't work out. But that still begs the question as to why it was decided that she would be the one who was left out. You'd think a new pro would need the exposure, as early as possible, and if anyone had to sit out, one of the better known ones could do it - like Ola, who might could use the extra time to heal, etc.

They also seemed to big up her participation on ITT as a "roving reporter" and I remember her tweeting that she went around visiting all the couples in training before the show ever started, but I don't remember seeing any of that footage. And if that's her role, why are they bringing on Richard Arnold, Iwan, etc., to do remote interviews for ITT.

And it seems to me they sort of want to ease people out sometimes, instead of abruptly dropping them - like Anya given another year as assistant choreographer (now apparently gone) - Robin played a bigger role on ITT last year than this year - James was offered a diminished role when he was let go but he declined - that "troupe" they had when several were let go at once, Matthew, Lilia, Darren... Well, part of me wonders if she's being eased out.

Nothing to do but wait and see if she has a partner in 2016.

Not a fan, so the less of see of her the better!

Well, I really like Joanne, so I hope she doesn't get eased out!

I think they often put people like Joanne or the pros who went out early near the front so that they get a bit more screen time (a) to maintain the profile of the pro & (b) to get their money's worth!

Not sure whether this was anything to do with it but it was Joanne's birthday on Saturday, the BBC must have felt sorry for her as she share's it with Wayne Rooney and he was 30 at the weekend Joanne was 32 and that is coming from someone who is 30 on Wednesday.

I think they just like to occasionally remind us all that Joanne is still there!

I do feel she has been treated appallingly this year - no celeb partner despite making a decent first impression last year and not being sulky at getting a 'comedy' act, and her role on ITT is pretty insignificant really. I like her a lot, and hope she gets more air time next year - I'd much rather have her than Ola who has looked consistently fed up this year!

She's a recent world champion and probably the best ballroom dancer there.

But they don't make much use of this.

My husband says she has the best posture of all the female Pros - he's not into Strictly particularly but even he noticed that

People seem to like her, she was good natured with Scott last year.

But they don't make much use of that.

Think she's hard done by.

I read that all the pairings had been made, and Joanne's celeb dropped out at the last minute, so she was left without a partner. She was co-opted onto ITT as a 'consolation', or somesuch. Nothing more sinister than that, I believe.

There's been no official word on why Joanne doesn't have a partner this year - it's all speculation. Personally the fact that they appear to have settled on 15 celebrities for the last two years suggests it was plannned to have 15 again this year and that Joanne was earmarked for a presenting role from the start, at least for this year. If they have 8 male celebrities and 7 female ones next year, following the pattern, I would guess she swings back in again, and Anton moves out.

But it is all speculation, as much as some people would have you believe otherwise.

(Personally I was interested when, on an early It Takes Two this year Zoe asked her about the prospect of doing a sexy latin dance with a male celeb and she visibly squirmed and said she'd rather not. I don't know if she was protesting too much but maybe she's happier with the duffer/comedy/Anton's Ladies sort of celebrity)

there wasnt an official confirmation but there was a poster on here who knew someone who worked on getting the celebs for the show and apparently a married couple were due to take part (they didnt know who) and they dropped out at the last minute leaving a pro without a partner - apparently the BBC felt they couldnt drop Oti seeing as they had just signed her so opted to offer Joanne the "presenter" role

Sorry, I cant remember the posters name but I read the thread and asked a few questions and I didnt have any reason to doubt what they were saying

Having said all that - no, there was no official word from the BBC as to why Joanne was suddenly without a celeb partner

I like her and she has a nice cheerful personality and voice. Perhaps she has other commitments so was not as worried about not being fully used?

i haven't particularly noticed her, but she's still in the pro dances i think, and the dancers are often there after their celebs have left, so no surprise really.

i don't know, that might well be true. But I think another year there were rumours that Richard and Judy dropped out at the last minute - I can't remember which year now. It seems weird if they'd have a married couple dropping out more than once, so it might be that rumour getting recycled. Or not - I don't know.

I don't really believe that they're so short of people that they wanted 16 couples and got 15. It's too big a show and they aren't that fussy about how famous they have to be. Someone from TOWIE would have done it, definitely. I think they wanted 15, but they need an even number of men and women for the group dances.

The "married couple" rumour was made up from nowhere from a poster in the "who do we think" thread pre-series and the rest of the board ran with it because they were bored and there were pretty much zero proper leaks this year.

Apparently the married couple was Jamie and Louise Redknapp.

http://www.ok.co.uk/tv/strictly-come...ouise-redknapp

The article also says Michelle Heaton was going to be on. It also doesn't explain why they would apparently have a female reserve immediately to hand, but not a male one, and also neglects the fact that Jamie Rednapp would be far too tall for Joanne.

height issues have never bothered the BBC!

Kristina and Colin Salmon anyone

Ola & Andrew Castle - and Kenny Logan, too.

she is doing the Choreography Corner tonight - gets ready for the knockers

They can say what they like, Jo knows her stuff. Love seeing her

thought she did a great job - gave some great tips - so glad she had a chance to show just how much she knows re dance

She was excellent on CC just now...clear, informative and gave great tips for improvement.

Well done Joanne, very good on ITT

She's not noticeably top heavy ...

She was excellent.