So there are 9 male pros and 8 female now right?

And there are 15 Celebs, and it's highly likely 8 will be male? Which would mean 2 male pros sit out?

Anton and Brendan are the logical choices. Would really love to see one of the females not have to be unfairly lumbered with Anton this year.

but there could be 17 celebs ? or 16 and one male celeb drops out? would like that to be Anton but can't see it - he did not do many of the pro routines last year and can't see him doing many this so if some are dropping out cannot see it being him as there would be no point having him on show.

I think it'll be 15 because the launch show is at the same time, they've started the announcements at the same time and the press have stated there'll be 15.

Yes, but have the BBC confirmed that?

Anton and Brendan would be the most obvious choices since they have been on since the beginning and have had their fair share. Most likely Anton as he's the oldest and it be his last year as he's the favourite to replace Len next year on the judging panel. There should be 7 female celebs this year unless there will be 16 in total. Don't want it to be any of the others.

Press can " assume" with the extra professional dancers there could be more celebrities, thry will have to find a budget for them, it's the BBC. But maybe double eliminations.

If the BBC has two extra dancers under contract they might be covering injuries but they'll be given other work as well whether it's pro routines, ITT, Christmas special, etc.

Yeah I feel Anton could be taking a Joanne role to kind of gently ease him out of the show. I really can't imagine him partnering someone... Maybe this is a bridge to him being a judge next year

There's fifteen celebs this year, it's revealed in the description for the Red Carpet show on the BBC website.

I can't see Anton and Brendan not having celebs with all the experience they bring and profile they have with the viewing public.

Would also see Aljaz, Pasha, Kevin and Neil as certain to have celebs.

Two out of AJ, Gorka and Giovanni might have a Joanne role this year. Pro dances, ITT, CIN and Christmas Specials.

What's the point of bringing in newbies if they're not even getting celebs? Definitely think (and hope) the newbies have celebs.

I hope they all get a partner, if there isn't going to be a longer series bring back the week 1 elimination as well as the semi final double to make it fit into 13 weeks

Yeah me too. Especially Gorka. Think he's gorgeous 😍😍

I can't believe there's six newbies though! Isn't this the most new pros in one series ever? Fresh faced year!

I was thinking to gain experience on the show and add something fresh to the pro dances.

I'm sure the pros must all know either way. Joanne's confirmed she's partnering a celeb, well deserved, she threw herself in to every role she was given last series.

I think that would be a bit of gamble as "we" (most of the viewing public) don't know AJ or Gorka yet. Joanne had a bit of spark about her as well as being knowledgeable and likeable plus we knew her from the first series. From what I saw of Giovanni I don't think he has those qualities. So I think those three will be partnered and the Joanne role will be taken by a known quantity as it were. I don't do the Anton loathing but I really wouldn't mind desperately if he didn't have a partner this year!

I came up with those three by process of elimination really.

Anton I would see as more likely to be teaching a celeb but sitting out of a lot of the pro dances, maybe partnering Joanne again for a couple of ballroom numbers. Brendan I can't imagine would have signed up again unless he'll have a celeb.

Due to popularity, time served on the show and previous success I'm also sure Pasha, Kevin and Aljaz will have celebs. Kevin's due a duffer for sure so may well be doing the CIN and Christmas Specials anyway and he's always entertaining on ITT. I could see Kevin being partnered with a popular older lady and going some distance iin the competition anyway though.

Neil Jones, World Latin Showdance Champion, still competing with Katya, already involved with choreo behind the scenes last year. Can't imagine he and his wife would have signed up unless they are guaranteed celebs and he certainly seems to think so on Twitter

I personally hope Gorka's got a partner but I suppose it's possible he's signed up to take part in the pro dances as an introduction to the show, same with AJ and Chloe? My teen daughter's very excited about those two so I hope they are partnered. Giovanni I don't think has confirmed he has a celeb as Joanne already has on social media? But if he has I'll take him off the list. I agree with you about him from a personal point of view . . . but I'd rather see more of him on ITT and the Specials than have a fake 'three way showmance drama' in the media involving him, Georgia and his new female celebrity.

I hope there aren't 17 celebs Far too many.

Good analysis Ochre! I agree with everything other that the BIB ....

Being a bit of a stick in the mud/not liking change kind of person, I'm not usually enthusiastic about new pro dancers but I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing the newbies this year. It also, I hope, will stop the Clifton takeover which the PTB seem to love. I've not got a problem with any of them individually but it is irritating that they're pushed to the forefront so much. I think Neil Jones may be the pro we love to hate but we'll see

Gio hasn't confirmed he has a celeb, no. But a few things Georgia has said have suggested he does.. Obviously not concrete but I'd be very surprised if he doesn't.

Morning Star

I'd love to know if the pros know who they're going to be partnered with before the show starts ... I bet they do One year during the "what can possibly go wrong" dance in the launch show they all ended up with their actual partners. It wasn't last year but it was either the year before or the year before that.

Morning Lou

It would be interesting to know. I would think they had a good idea if not 100% sure as they have to practice for the launch show dance and like you say, usually, they are dancing with their future partner, even if not for the whole dance.

I think that, iirc, they used to choreograph it that way, even if it meant a mad dash to grab your partner at the end. I seem to remember that last years was coincidental.

I hope that IF some pro's aren't getting a contestant that they will be told beforehand and not left standing there like the last children to be picked for a team in p.e. That'd be awful and I hate the partnering up bit anyway as it is. It'll be no fun without Aliona this year anyway!

cant imagine Brendan would have signed up if doesnt have a celeb!

They rehearsed multiple endings for the group dance and went with the "correct" one on the night.

Is it set in stone that they alternate the male-female uneven numbers? I would think it's so much easier to find female celebs prepared to do the show.

I've wondered whether the two youngsters are there to feature in pro dances and learn the ropes. I've no real reason to think that, except backstageone did make mention of a 'troupe' earlier.

I feel that Neil will get a celeb. He wasn't announced at the same time as Katya. If they had had a stand-by role planned for him, I imagine they would have announced him. He indicated at the time that he was still hoping, so I wonder if it came down to waiting for prospective celebs to sign on the dotted line.