Which celebrities have gained the most do you think?

Thinking of anybody at all, not just winners, and don't mean only gained most in career or money terms.

I'd say John Sargeant gained the most as he became very well known as an entertaining and nice man. He then started another career as a presenter and all round 'nice' bloke after his previous job as a political journalist.

Ann Widdecombe seemed to start a career in all branches of entertainment! Think it made her a bit more broad minded too - she's been very complimentary about Craig even though their outlooks are so different.

Even Simon Webbe is starring in Nottingham panto this year with Biggins! (It's that which made me start this thread).)

Alesha Dixon - she was basically a forgotten pop star when she did Strictly, then went onto being Strictly judge followed by BGT judge.

Susanna Reid - used show to go from BBC Breakfast to ITV on what I assume are increased wages.

Kara Tointon - now doing so well in West End and about to do Sound of Music live on tv

James Martin - I doubt he'd have got Saturday Kitchen without it and he's still doing it.

Aled Jones

I'd agree on Alesha and Kara and John. Was Matt Dawson doing Question of Sport before he did Strictly? With some people I don't know enough about them before to judge. I think it opened doors for Louis as well.

I don't know if Suzanna was wise to move to GMB, just going on ratings.

Jill Halfpenny went on to do West End I think.......

Simon Webbe, because he seemed to regain some self-respect, or self-worth.

Mark Ramprakash, because it seemed to make him a far happier, more relaxed, less intense person.

Jimi Mistry, because he met his wife.

Top post. (And top thread - makes a refreshing change to have a new and interesting topic to talk about).

Louis is back doing gymnastics - he's in the GB team that's just qualified for the Rio Olympics. I think he got a bit of a rocket for lack of commitment when he first returned to the gym and has had to knuckle down to a full time regime to justify his place in the squad.

He apparently wants to start a clothing line when he finally retires from gym, and his SCD profile won't hurt here, I guess.

She did, a few did, but her career slowly petered out, so I don't think Strictly made her a bigger star than she was at the time.

no, probably not, I wonder if she would have gone to the West End if she hadnt have done Strictly or won it for that matter - it might not have made her a bigger star but it may have opened a few more doors for her - if that makes sense

Yes, think it was a year or so before Masterchef and another year before Strictly.

On top of what everyone else has said, it probably got Caroline her X Factor job back and it's certainly provided Lisa Riley with a lot of work. The show also helped Julian segue back into the mainstream after he was black-balled from television for years. Gethin probably got a fair bit of presenting work off the back of it as well and IIRC it was also probably a large part of Matt getting The One Show. Other than that I dunno, Abbey?

Abbey Clancy because the public got to see her real persona . She kind of changed the public perception that people had about her so that was the BEST thing about her win imo. In that sense , she benefited the most from strictly. Professionally as well; She seems to be doing really, really well : publishing deals, clothing line, judge on Britain next top model, presenting at LFW....I would know since I still keep up with her

Hmmm...other than her, I would say Alesha as well.....her music career was kind of succesful after she won even though it fizzled. She is still getting gigs and putting her name out there.

Matt Baker...didnt make a difference...he is still successful in his day job.

Gethin may have received a lot of presenting jobs after strictly but I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him presenting on the backstage bits at Dancing with the stars last season....talk about downgrade (they replaced him this season anyways; he is so much better than that )

Some celebrities got a immediate huge boost after the show , doing shows : kara, chelsee healey, Ali Bastian..............

Most of the BBC Athletics presenting team is made up of ex- Strictly contestants (Denise, Colin, Gabby Logan). Co-incidence or because of increased personal profile? They just need to get Paula Radcliffe and Michael Johnson dancing to complete the set

Mark Benton got a tv quiz master job after Strictly (probably not your first thought for that type of job) and is doing loads of theatre work, he's currently in As You Like It at the National Theatre.

You Forgot something, Abbey has also done Comic Relief Bake Off, i don't know if you have seen that.

Did Matt Baker get The One Show job before or after Strictly?

I think Robbie Savage got more tv punditry as he was mainly a radio presenter before.

Another dream contestant for me - although judging by the bit of dancing he did recently at the World Championships he looked more of a Jeremy then a Jay in actual dancing terms. But hey, he could just stand there and talk and I'd be very happy

I think Monkseal's call of Julian Clarey is a very good one, he'd been in the wilderness for quite some time after THAT remark (which still makes me snigger ) and Strictly really was his way back in.

Indeed he was ....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/h...ian-Clary.html

I think he was already doing the One Show when he did Strictly.

I'd agree with those who nominated Alesha Dixon - she definitely saw the benefit of it.

I would also say Judy Murray. I think she showed a different side to her that most of the GBP wouldn't have expected before?

The One Show wiki page has him starting in 2011 (Strictly 8 was 2010). My memory of it was that they were trying out a few hosts at the end of 2010 in the wake of Jason Manford quitting because he'd been caught shagging about and Matt was the one that stuck.

Matt Baker was already doing The One Show.

Agree that Robbie Savage got more work off the back of Strictly.

Think Alesha probably benefitted the most, had it not been for Strictly doubt we would ever have heard of her again, she certainly wouldn't have got the BGT gig.

Zoe Balls career definitely improved after appearing on Strictly.

Matt Baker was already doing Countryfile and had been doing other presentation work so I don't think The One Show job was just because of Strictly but obviously must have helped.

Tom Chambers did well too. Last West End show I know of him starring in was Top Hat... a dream come true for him

Abbey Clancy she now has her own business, is a judge on Britains Next Top Model, Presents TV shows and is still doing modelling as well.

Top Hat was about 2012, the last time he was in the West End was in White Christmas last year (with Aled Jones and it was excruciatingly cheesey by all accounts). Think he did Waterloo Road after Strictly too.

It has also raised the profiles of Craig and Len . Both have appeared in quite a few programmes on telly . Craig is also now a performer , touring at present as Miss Hannigan in Annie .