Yipes! That is exactly how the production team will think too. The first number is almost always a nod to the celebrities' names or professions. Great Balls of Fire - anybody's guess what dance they will shoehorn it into.

Same here - he looked much shorter than that on Bake Off.

Knowing the production team, they will be dancing the Viennese Waltz or Rhumba to that tune

Well its perfect for either isn't it???

Having said that some 'interesting' Rhumba choreography to Great Balls of Fire is beginning to form in my imagination. I am not sure it could be used for Saturday teatime telly though.

But of course.




Ooh Matron!

I believe that there is ample space on the naughty step .....

Budge up then,

I'd guess Ed's real height at about 5' 8" (max). That wouldn't necessarily stop them partnering him with Natalie.

He could possibly be paired with Katya?

Is Katya the new ola

Why would they pair Natalie with a short guy?
Definitely not happening.
Of the new girls, Katya's the most likely.

No. Definitely not. Katya will be the best Latin dancer on the show. I think she'll get someone very good. Having said that Joanne didn't in her first season.

I'm sure she'd work well with Ed though. However I think Karen will be paired with Ed. It would work well in terms of personalities.

I'll be angry if any of the new girls get a contender over Natalie, Joanne and Oti. Joanne and Oti both got a hard ride on their first year and while Natalie did get someone good in her debut year, she's had quite a few weaker partners since!

They gave Oti someone young and apparently fit. I don't think it was intended to give her a weaker dancer. Joanne and Scott appeared to want to be partners after getting on well together.

Having said that, I don't mind who any of them get and so fine by me if Katya gets Ed. They all get a good career boost from the show and so I'm certainly not getting angry on any pro's behalf.

New reveal lunchtime today I think Radio 2 with Vanessa Feltz

I think Antony Ogogo was considered contender material - until he hit the dance floor, that is.. So Oti wasn't giving and "obviously" hard ride - that''s just how it transpired. Unless the producers actively want her to have a longer run this year, I feel she will get Ed.

I hope Karen doesn't get him - she's paid her dues and now it is time she got an out-and-out contender. After four years on the show, she and her partner have twice been cast in the 'crowd pleasing' role and twice as the "It looked good on paper" couple.

EDIT: BIB pre-empted by Ann_Dancer!

Oti had a celeb with only one working arm. I assume the hope was he would be good enough to stay until he became fully functional again but that it took longer than expected and the viewers were wary about wrecking someone's long term career just so they could do a one-armed Salsambacha ... Jade casts a long shadow over not yet retired athletes. I don't think Oti had an easy draw at all, really.

wheres todays announcement coming from?

Well you would guess wrong - I have met him several times and actually thought he was over 6 ft - so if he says he is 5ft 11ins he is 5ft 11ins.

IIRC Anthony himself said that even when he signed up the show's doctors said that they wouldn't expect him to have a functioning arm until about halfway through the run. Given the record of boxers with two working arms, let alone one, I doubt they planned for him to make it out of October.

I want Natalie with a contender but ive seen that she's 5ft10 and since Ed's 5ft 11 I have my suspicion, Will young is 5ft11 so I want him with Natalie if she is to get a ringer

I didn't realise Will was that tall.

Like you, I want Natalie with a contender this year so if all heights are correct, Will would be perfect.

TPTB knew that Anthony had only one working arm, so not contender material.

I think a contender would be wasted with Karen, but Ed might not be that bad of a dancer.

I keep looking for the same thing. That's assuming there even is one today

Why when we've never seen her with one?

Karen & 'the comedy angle' might fit but it is getting stale now. Do we really need a female Anton?