Confound the English language that doesn't -as some others do- have two different pronouns for "we": one that includes the speaker and one that doesn't.

[quote=dippydancing;83787143]Confound the English language that doesn't -as some others do- have two different pronouns for "we": one that includes the speaker and one that doesn't.[/QUOTE

Thanks for that lovely lesson. My English degree sure left out some serious shit.

I was merely stating the way that I read the comment from Neil and Katya. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. No biggie.

This year the pros sitting out will not get paid the same as the partnered professionals as it should be, the work load imposed on a pro dancer is a none stop 6 days a week affair and pros with no celebrities pretty much sit it out, remember, they already learned all the group numbers in the month of August.

All pros involved have known for a long time about their standing in the show, but signing a contract does not necessarily indicate that you know what your status will be regarding a celebrity at Launch Show.

The stronger seasoned/proven pros with established names will usually have priority for celebrity partnering. in the past the new pros would always get a celebrity as a rule, but that has changed this year, they will do ITT, special events, and would also take over in case of an emergengy like an injured Pro.

Thanks for that first-hand clarification backstageone!

I don't understand the BIB though - it looks kind of contradictory to me...

Thanks as ever backstsgeone. Just quoted one paragraph of your post as I'm confused - when you say that they've long known about their status on the show, I presume that means that they know whether or not they are getting a pro. Which I hope is the case as it would be awful to leave them hanging. But you then say that even though they've signed a contract that doesn't necessarily mean they know their status with regards a celebrity - and I read that as meaning that they might not know whether or not they are getting a celebrity - so I'm confused! I really hope they all know where they stand!

EDIT - I see that jroos said the same as me, but succinctly in one sentence! 😂 I never knowingly use one word when 10 would do - oops! Sorry!

BIB suggests, to me anyway, that Neil and Katya will be partnering celebs and AJ and Chloe will be the extra dancers. It would be a big ask to give younger dancers a celeb to train, nurture, choreograph for and take onto live tv each week, even though I understand they are great and experienced dancers. Makes sense to introduce them gradually to the show and how it works. As for partnering Claudia, isn't Gorka quite young and not too tall??

The fact that at this point the pros have known for a good while their status regarding celebrities, it does not translate into having that information at the time of signing. Like I said before, the more established pros have the advantage and they are automatically assumed to get a celebrity, specially those who have been doing well in past series. First they sign a contract, then things start to develop and later on they find out if they will get a celebrity or not. A contract does not guarantee the pro that he/she will be paired with a celebrity, it only confirms their participation on strictly.

The celebrities mold the show and not the other way around.

WOW!!! That's a bit harsh!

Talk about a kick in the guts when you find out at the last minute that you've actually signed on to be a bit-part player. So its pretty much like in a football match when a manger announces a team 30 minutes before kick-off and those selected for the team are simply "benched"?

No, they do not find out at the last minute, they have plenty of time before the series starts, just not at contract signing.

Ok, so as we type, those who have been "benched" are well aware and will not be anywhere near the pairing line-up?

As long as, as you say, they all know by now - it's at least not going to be that someone is left standing there expectantly without a partner, that would be awful!!

They know in advance and wait for their opportunity the following year.

Thank you backstageone.

That sounds exactly what happened with Joanne last year then. Her not partnering a celeb was announced before the launch show so I guess the same will happen in the next few days.

I would be very surprised if AJ does not get Claudia. Its a pairing I would like to see and obviously if they have got on during the training sessions.

Hence the big announcements tomorrow from Jo & Janette - though Jo can't surely be sitting out again. Janette is a possibility though...thanks for the info backstageone!


Its not an impossibility though. What you need to do is imagine who she would have got had AJ not been signed up this year. That way, you will not be disappointed if she doesn't get AJ, but truly made up if she does!

Janette has said her announcement is very exciting and there's lots to talk about. Being demoted to not partnering a celeb doesn't really seem to fit that.

Katya, Gorka and Oksana were announced in June. Chloe, Neil and AJ were announced about a month later, even though usually all the pros are returning at once. I'd guess that two of the three who were announced later won't be partnering celebs (and that AJ was brought in specifically to partner Claudia once they'd signed her).

True ok I hope she gets AJ. I would like to see at least one of the two young pros with a celeb.

When it comes to pros, Brendan, Anton, Aljaz & Janette, Kevin & Karen, Pasha and Natalie are the Strictly brand right now, no one would even contemplate the thought of taking them out, unless they want to leave. I would put my bet on Neil & Chloe not getting partners this year.

She may not see it as a demotion - especially if it opens up new opportunities like presenting roles. Maybe she's thinking long-term career move once the dancing is over...or perhaps she is pregnant?! Who knows?

Well, Janette does, but you know what I mean...!

..and it was those pros announced a month later that were hanging in the celibrity balance.

I am convinced that Jo's announcement is about a stage role which according to what she said in one of her tweets will keep her busy for at least 6 months in 2017. As for Janette's announcement she gave the impression that it concerned all the pros. I'm guessing it might be a tour.

Thanks backstageone!

Truly she has been saying "we" and "our" so could either concern herself and Aljaz (own tour, sitting out because of pregnancy) or all the pros (tour).

I presume that with the 3 later announced pros it was just a case of seeing whether they needed an extra male or female pro before confirming which one of them got the full gig, as it were. And that AJ is the one who is getting a pro as they ended up with 8 female celebs and also he's the best match amongst the pros for Claudia

Backstageone - do you think it will be Anton's last year?

I'm guessing that Jo's announcement is re a stage role next year and that Janette's is that her and Aljaz are touring, or something like that

Anyone else think Daisy won't get Aljaz?

Arguably Aljaz's most famous partnership is with Abbey and wouldn't Daisy be a bit too similar to her?