Given you're leaking info then I think you need to say a bit more as to why Gleb was not selected to return.

Vodka_Drinka - source is The Sun *rolls eyes* so take it with a very large pinch of salt ^ link about

Trent quit, didn't he?

The story at the time was that he said he wouldn't come back unless his wife was offered a pro slot, too. I've no idea if this was a 'demand', or just him saying, 'this doesn't work for me unless we can both do the show', but it seems the show didn't want her and so Trent didn't return. Whether to call that quitting, not being invited back or being 'let go' is just a shade of interpretation .

backstageone, can you confirm that Len is the reason that Gleb was dropped?

Len didn't like him it seems

I just had a thought. Anton dancing in a stannah stairlift in 15 years time.

He'll never leave, will he?

I think they like the connection that Anton and Brendan give back to the early days.

I would just be interested to see if a female pro of a similar age would be given the same consideration ...

Sorry, but I don't feel that I have to say more than what I think can be said, I share some info only because there are many devoted Strictly fans on this forum always looking for bits of information prior to and during the series and I know that they are dying to get some behind the scenes news, sometimes they believe it and sometimes they ask for proof, funny, they get the info and then they want me to say who I am, really?

A big NO

So that's not the reason then? Just something ive heard on the grapevine....

I'm still finding hard to believe he was dropped. If it was his choice then that's fair enough, but why the hell would they chose to drop a Gleb? Doesn't make sense? Unless he bargained to hard to get his wife onto the show?

Whilst it's true that you don't have to share, it's also fair to say that your information winds up SCD fans. Are we to be given more initials about Gleb's departure in order to guess why he was dropped?? Either you keep your information to yourself or you share it. What you are do is an exercise of power over others. "I know and I'll tell you I know but I will not tell you what I know. Here have some initials to keep you busy"!

Having said this I will now heed some of DS's important advice to members of its forum.

EDIT: Seeing you engage in a yes-no tag with Vodka supports my thoughts.

I would put it as a 50/50 proposition. Getting too fresh on the first series equals trouble down the road, and that is all I will say.

I take it that you speak for all forum members. I will take your well intentioned advice and keep the information to myself.

So he got too big for his boots then?

Why is he saying it was his choice to leave?

To save face?

I thought 'getting fresh' meant coming on to someone, or does it mean something else these days?

Hello Vodka_Drinker, I have given thought to what MaggieMcGee wrote to me and there really is no real purpose for me other than to, as she puts it, "exercise my power over others" with my participation in this forum.

Actually there are no benefits for me to post anything here, other than to give the biggest fans of Strictly some (on purpose) limited intel on what is going behind the scenes without putting myself and my sources in peril, that is why, as an example, I used initials and not the complete names of the new pros a couple of days ago and told you that they would be announced very soon but did not give the exact date. For some people this is not good enough, and for this, I have decided that is not worth the risk and have decided not to post anything else regarding behind the scenes news.

Ill go back to tax reasons master chief , strictly and a possible tour is a long spell in the uk111

slittle chance or none

To be fair to Backstageone, we ask for little snippets of news and then debate about whether they are true or made up, then ask for further info as 'proof' when things are shown to be right.

We really should be kinder to our moles - especially if they might be putting themselves in jepordy - and it's really not their fault if the news they bring is news we didn't want to hear.

I'd like to say that I'm sorry Backstage has decided not to post on here any more.
I'm sure people must realise that it isn't always possible to give precise information, and the initials and 'shock' announcement was true.
Thank you for all the information you have given us.

I really have appreciated all the scoops that backstageone has shared with us and I think he/she has been very kind to do so! Will miss you badly but please know that some of us appreciate you very very much!

That's fair enough. You've been proved correct though, so I'm hoping this is just a flounce and you will be back on the forums again soon

Gleb declined scd he was not dropped.

One of the new requirements:

"And dancers cannot take 'action to try to manipulate the public vote... such as setting up a call centre... or taking out a national *advertising campaign'".

I wonder if those sexy calendars would count as a national advertising campaign? Aren't all the calendar-hawkers now gone? I'm trying to remember who all did one: Gleb and Ola for sure - maybe also Kristina or Aliona?