It makes sense if anything

It happened to Joanne last year and she made the absolute best of all the opportunities she was given in pro dances, on ITT and the Christmas Special. I wonder what the new pro contracts say about the possibility of rotation. Maybe Kevin wouldn't mind the rest

Another young male for Chloe would provide a nice balance to the lineup.

Danny is the youngest man so far so she might get him if there is no one younger

We have an 18-year-old, three celebs in their twenties and one in their very early thirties. The younger generation is already more than adequately represented in this lineup.

Yes, Joanne did make the best of it - but I bet it wasn't her ideal scenario (though I'm hoping her good grace about it nabs her Will Young this year!). I can pretty much guarantee that all the pros contracts (newbies and exisiting pros) give the producers the ability to rotate them out. They are just less likely to do it with some people than others!! I can't see Kevin wanting out - though it would be nice for the rest of us to have him going out earlier in the competition this year, rather than have him in a 4th final in a row! I can't see the producers resting him either - he's one of the more established pros and is v popular generally, if not always on digital spy!

I think Kevin is actually a fairly marmite character, and his partnership with Kellie wasn't a good idea. He probably should have had a quieter series last year and definitely needs one this year.

I agree - I could do with a break from him, for sure! But whilst i don't think he'll get a contender this year, I certainly think he'll get someone and won't be one of the pros "on the bench"

Oh, I agree - we know for sure it's two of the new pros on the bench. I'd just like to see him get someone who'll be out before Blackpool.

backstageone said two male pros not having a celeb though

Oh, I must have missed that - was that recently?!

I'm sure it wasn't what she would have chosen but I liked Joanne all the more for the positive attitude she showed.

I'm a fan of Kevin as well as Joanne and no I can't imagine him being rested...I also see him going a long way in the competition with all the announced ladies he could potentially be partnered with.

I had a look back and I don't think they said two men. They said Neil wouldn't have a partner and Gorka, Katya, AJ and Oksana all have partners at the moment. When combined with the Radio Times saying it will be two new pros sitting out, that only leaves Chloe I think.

Nicola Adams (GB boxer) has just ruled herself out live on CBBC Newsround when asked whether she was going to follow Claudia's steps.

Not happening then

When I followed the same logic and mentioned that on the pairing thread, backstageone replied saying things are really fluid atm and can change at any time. So, it remains to be seen if it's Chloe or not but following the previous logic it looks very likely that she will be the one sitting out.

Will Kevin have a celeb? I'd like to see him not because he's been in 3 finals

So we're not really sure if it's 8 women or 8 men

Also I wouldn't rule out an Olympian on the One Show, the One Show is a far bigger platform than just being announced on twitter and seeming as they announced Will Young on twitter, who is arguably one of the bigger/most well known names this year, I don't think the fact three are being announced together means they are low rent bookings - I mean Gregg Wallace was announced on The One Show, admittedly a love hate man but again arguably one of the more "household names" that year compared to Judy Murray and Alison Hammond who got individual announcements

It's been confirmed that the pros not taking celebs are two of the new ones.

Joseph - I would be willing to bet that it's 8 women. And - and I promise this is the very last time I will mention this - I still think the last man must be in his 50s at least, with the other two announcements on The One Show being Angellica and Lesley.

Was that Radiotimes? Does that really confirm it?

I don't disagree, they need an older man but that doesn't mean the older man couldn't be an Olympian or some sort of Sports Star. I'm not saying it is an Olympian as we have one with Claudia but I'm just saying let's not rule it out.

I know you're convinced about Angelica and it seems likely given that she's from The One Show and she follows the right accounts and she was rumoured from the start but hey you never know

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-...sional-dancers

They're claiming "a source", but I don't really see any reason for them to make it up.

It could be someone like Nick Skelton... although that would be a pretty big name to get and I'm inclined to think that he'd get his own announcement. But I have no idea who this last unknown celeb is, so we'll see.


Remember the Sun reported her as the first absolute definite, and they have a very good track record on Strictly if nothing else.

Hmmm - of course backstageone said this - because they probably have no more knowledge than anyone else - hence the ambiguity !! When they come on DS and name names then I'd be more inclined to believe that they actually do work ' back stage ' and have inside information

Kevin having made three finals out of three is why he absolutely should have a celeb - the pros shouldn't be punished for being popular and good teachers.

Fair Point - Kevin only annoyed me during his partnership with Frankie (who I didn't like) and he kept shouting Frankenstein every time they got through - loved him with Susanna and liked him with Kellie

Totally agree. It is interesting to see that what would normally be put forward as an argument for keeping most pros (made several finals) seems to count as an argument against Kevin.