Originally Posted by kp2ni:
“I took that from what was said at the time by people who know more than me & it isn't that important to be honest however they will probably stick to 16 pros whether they all dance with celeb is to be seen but having 16 pros makes sense for pro numbers and IF they stick to 15 celebs it means they have a spare pro if someone get injured”
Though it does rely on a certain gender of pro getting injured. If one of the guys had picked up a knock there would be little point in calling in Joanne.
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The next bit generally ignores The Sun's rumour mill so:
Out of last year's pros those I think Aljaz, Janette, Kevin, Karen, Joanne, Gleb, Giovanni and Pasha are pretty safe. Natalie will be if they can find a tall male celebrity who wants to take part (which I imagine won't be overly difficult). I hope, and think, Oti will get another chance.
So that's ten out of the 16 listed above, with three quitting, which leaves Anton, Brendan and Trsitan. Anton may bow out gracefully now he has a final appearance behind him (as frankly, that's as good as it will get for him). He'll have another role on the show or It Takes Two. I wouldn't mind him joining Ian in Midweek Warm Up, maybe as Ballroom guide with Ian staying as Latin guide?
Brendan may get another year so they don't lose the two 'long termers' in one go. Tristan... has he made enough impact for the producers? Really he's due a ringer if he stays and I think he could be another long termer if given the chance (and he doesn't want to go to Australia as indicated in a previous post). If he does go...
I think the producers may want another 'power couple' to offset the Clifton's - with Kevin, Karen and Joanne on the show there is a risk of it coming across as overpowering. I wonder whether Neil and Ekaterina Jones would be interested in joining? I know Neil performed on the show before and having another couple, maybe easier to get on with than the Jordans, who provide some balance.
This still leaves us down two female pros (if we're back to eight male celebrities next year). I wonder if they'll thank Anya for stepping in for the pro routines when Ola's mouth went AWOL last year but asking her back for another stab at the glitterball? She knows the show and has worked on it over the last couple of years so would be an easy replacement.
As for the final pro... how embedded in Dancing with the Stars is Emma Slater? She's never been given a ringer on the US version of the show so maybe the time is ripe for her to move to her home show? Of course, who would leave the heat of LA for the cold of London in the winter? Er, except Tristan.
So my uneducated early guess for pros this year:
Aljaz, Brendan, Giovanni, Gleb, Kevin, Neil, Pasha (Tristan if eighth required)
Anya, Ekaterina, Emma, Janette, Joanne, Karen, Natalie, Oti
I'm sure I'll be miles out.