Neil seems to be taking the sleazy role rather than the bad boy role.

And Strictly doesn't need a bad boy the endless nonsense of James Jordan was enough to show that the arrogance/ crappy comments arent required for the show

I agree with Ochre that we need a range of personalities. Brendan used to be seen as the 'rebel' as did Aliona to a lesser extent. I loved the way you could see her thinking "yeah whatever" when the judges were giving their feedback

Sleazy is far too strong. A bit of banter his wife is party to as well, really?

If a celebrity Olympic six foot Adonis is named and the female pros tweet they're fighting over him are they sleazy too?

Neil's just being honest he wants a contender in my view.

I agree that the show needs varied personalities, otherwise it'd be boring.

Re Neil, I'm trying to keep an open mind, but judging by his twitter feed (I remember some of his posts last year) and that fat suit routine I have to say that, at the moment, I'm less than impressed. But let's see how it goes.

BIB Me too Going to miss Aliona.

Looking forward to today's celeb announcement!

Same here. I can be as judgemental as the next person (no honestly I can) but I usually wait until I have a tiny bit of knowledge before I decide I actively dislike someone. I can't believe some of the really negative things I have read about Laura ALREADY?!? Especially when it's coupled with the "never heard of her" line?!?!

I didn't like the fat suit routine at all - I thought it was crass and insensitive. I'm also not wild about the Twitter field BUT I have never seen Neil interviewed or heard him speak so, as you say, I'm waiting until I unleash my criticisms

Is there an Announcement today

Me too - do we know when/where it will be? I wonder if it would be a good idea to have a thread just for the announcements .... no, I have immediately dismissed that idea as mad. It will be fodder for the messageboard police.

Yes, hence Ochre saying "looking forward to today's announcement".

Laura has just tweeted a photo of someone outside her house with a camera

"Creepy photographer outside my house... I see you. Thanks for making me feel intimidated in my own home"

Damn, she rumbled me

She gets a lot of grief on her Twitter page. A lot of people were telling her that having creepy photographers stalking you is par for the course in her job (really??) and a lot of criticism for her giving an interview to The Sun.

I thought the next Celeb was to be announced on the radio this morning

So did I I'm in a Strictly Facebook group and someone said on there that it was going to be announced on Nick Grimshaw's R1 show this morning - I didn't quote them because it seemed a bit odd to use the same show two days running. I wish they would tell us when they are going to make the announcements.

I wonder if any one direction will feature this year

She'll have to grow a thicker skin and get used to - it's what you get when you sign up for arguable the biggest show on the telly....

So no announcement so far Today? Also do we know when "Launch day" is this year?

They seem to be spreading the announcements around a bit again this year (as they did in 2015)

Chris Evans Monday, Twitter Tuesday, Radio 1 yesterday.

Last year Steve Wright announced one in his show but with The One Show being off air at the moment there's no live opportunity there, unless we get a current Olympian taking part and the announcement will be made on BBC1 one evening this or next week.

I'd like to think the pairing of the pro's and celebs will air on BBC1 on September 3rd with first live show on September 24th

Christmas Eve is a Saturday this year so I'd imagine the final to be the weekend before on December 17th so the start date similar to last year's.

Someone's just posted this on the group - has everyone voted?

https://strictlysupportgroup.wordpress.com/

Jay and Aliona have the three top spots!

I am now not convinced were getting an announcement today maybe wrong though.

It seems to me that we're not gonna get a name today

There's still the entire afternoon/evening? Not all names were revealed so early in the day last year.

You were the one adamant in the other thread that we were getting one

Oh quelle surprise

When does the One Show reveal normally happen? Later in the day if its there.