That's Laura this year

I'm just a this morning fan that's why I want Ruth in

I'm hoping for Laura as well. She's got a fun personality and will bring a lot to the show I think. She's 5'5" so I reckon they partner her with Giovanni to try and create "tension". Don't panic Lewis, I'm sure Giovanni won't be tempted to stray

Lewis, you do keep saying 'I definitley think X, Y and Z is in this year' yet never provide any source as to why. You just keep repeating yourself.

I wouldn't. Hopefully the producers will not be that desperate.

I remember Cheryl's supposed popularity rubbing off on Kimberley Walsh, when she showed up to support her on one of the shows.

Kimberley finished up (for the only time) in the bottom 2

Ryan Thomas yawn would much prefer Sol Heras

bib: How Nigel Farage of you.

I would prefer a 2013 series style absence of any 'Enders cast members in the final line up, with someone from either Casualty or Holby City instead. But I'm resigned to another EE addition taking part this year.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/c...ancing-8550377

Hmmm...I'm black myself...

Oh, OK.

I'm also black, which is why I took exception to that description. Apologies for being so blunt with you.

No problem. Obviously a slight loss in translation.

What I meant was that a non-white contestant is featured in every series in the interests of equal opportunity and political correctness...not that I am against it mind.

Eastenders is filmed at Elstree - as is Strictly.

Casualty and Holby are filmed in Cardiff
Hollyoaks is shot in Liverpool
Emmerdale - Leeds
Corrie - Salford

Is much easier for a current cast member of Eastenders than the from the other Drama series

The OffIcal Strictly Facebook page has just announced that its Strictly Season again, accompanied by a picture of Tess and Claudia together. I think we can assume that celebrity announcements will be coming very soon.

Strictly never seems to have had
I) a cast member from the bbc series Doctors,
II) a stand up comedian as a contestant- anyone think either of these is likely?

Season one had the late Jason Wood and Jimmy Tarbuck managed a week before Flavia broke him.
Rory Bremner as well, I guess.

Doctors isn't really high-profile enough. Comedians seem to be an area they haven't really mined all that much but could, though.

Julian Clary in series 2.

For comedians, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they went for one of Jenny Eclair, Katherine Ryan or Shappi Khorsandi.

bib 1: I do know that, thanks (along with the other shows you listed).

bib 2: The producers could still try to think outside such a predictable box though; they managed to do it with the likes of Ashley Taylor Daswon (Hollyoaks) and Patrick Robinson & Sunetra Sarker (Casualty).

bib: No chance, she is far too reclusive, off-stage.

Nina Conti would be incredible on Strictly, one for Giovanni.

Given that she's done every panel show going, plus Celeb Bake Off and Let's Make Tits of Ourselves for Comic Relief, plus the Sports Relief Triathlon thing, I find that a little hard to believe. Strictly is, afterall, just another job.

I was joking.

Ah , I had forgotten about clary, tarbuck etc! Strictly seems to have gone with veteran comedians in the past then, and not really mined the current group of comedians.

I think Jon Richardson / Sara pascoe/ Chris Ramsay/ Bridget Christie would be good on it.

I don't think sherrie Hewson will be in the lineup, as she did cbb last summer.

Potentially Charlotte Ritchie might do it? She is a call the midwife actress and star of sitcoms like siblings and fresh meat so has a wide age appeal?

I think that may be because most of the current comedians are far too cool for Strictly. Comedy never used to be as "cool" as it is now. Some of the modern day stand-ups are more on a par with rock stars, in terms of their image and profile.