Thanks .

And nothing says strictly is BACK like people already starting to moan ... Cant wait for the season to starts

Still saying that this seems pants....Louise Redknapp and danny mac?
Surely Andy Sugden is next up....he's on the run from emmerdale and could do with an SCD jolly for a couple of months.

#pants

this is a line-up that makes CBB look star studded though!

Yes because non entities like cast members from Geordie Shore and Ex on the Beach are more famous than Will Young and Ed Balls Seriously stop bloody whnging, we have this every single year!

Oh, do stop talking rubbish. Go and actually look at the current CBB lineup - an X Factor contestant who didn't actually make it to the live shows six years ago, somebody from the same series of X Factor and no less than three people from 'constructed reality' shows, one of which airs on VH1 and which about six British people have seen. The Hollyoaks bloke is probably one of the least famous people ever to take part in Strictly, but apart from that - and a lineup should always have different celebs catering for different tastes - it's a very strong line-up so far.

I will keep on saying it: Alesha & Jay were not exactly star-studded names when they signed on for Strictly...but look what happened in both cases. From relative obscurity, they both went on to win and become two of the most enduring champions in Strictly history.

if you want to see The Queen, Joan Collins, David Beckham, President Obama, Tom Cruise et al battling it out for Glitterball, then go to sleep and start dreaming...

why not wait and see what the celebs can actually do on the dancefloor before complaining about them!

I'm excited already for this year, I quite like the line up so far

Previous years, I've thought it was rubbish and still really enjoyed it

This kind of thread pops up every year (often several times)

As mentioned people whinged about Jay last year, and look how that turned out. He produced one of the most memorable dances in the shows history. Just because you've bit heard of someone doesn't mean they are not famous, although I have to admit you must live in a cave if you've never heard of Ed Balls, Will Young, Louise, Daisy and Laura.

I've not heard of Melvin or the other bloke (see), but I accept that just because I don't know who they are doenst mean they are not famous.

Agree, this thread was far too premature, the line up is great so far, and if one person hasn't heard of one celebrity it doesn't mean they will be bad, Jay proves it.

That is very true, I had never heard of him and wasn't impressed when he made his first appearance. He turned out to be my all time favourite celebrity since I started watching the series. So I certainly won't be judging by first appearances this year.

I think the line-up was sounding a bit rubbish to start with, apart from Will, but it's actually starting to seem pretty good now. It makes sense that they would want to keep some of the more high profile celebs for the later announcements.

I wouldn't say the line-up was pants, but I'm very underwhelmed so far - although the same was true last year and that turned out pretty well!

I think the main issue in 2016 is presenter overload - 4 of them is probably more than enough and the fact that both BBC presenters have hosted the same show and the two ITV presenters have also worked together before makes it look worse IMO. I doubt they would take on two people from Eastenders in a series so why have 2 BBC Breakfast presenters?

In terms of variety this year's lot is seriously lacking: 4 presenters and 3 singers plus 1 actor, 1 model and 1 politician isn't exactly varied. Hopefully the final 5 will make things look a bit better. Even if it doesn't though, it'll still most likely be good TV.

Just to note in 2010 they had both Scott Maslen and Kara Tointon from Eastenders and in 2009 they had Ricky Groves and Natalie Cassidy from Eastenders

Every single year people moan about the lineup and every single year it is the less well known celebrities who perform well on the show

I thought this show was about dancing, not how much of a star each celebrity is

I think it's somewhere inbetween - loads of people will tune in anyway, but a better cast of celebrities will entice more floating viewers to tune in. The show will probably do well come what may, but a more famous line-up will help it do even better.

Actually its a show about celebrities dancing!

I don't mind too much who is in so long as they do their best and aren't annoying(!) but in the build up to the show, I think it helps when there are some people you already know and like. I like Will Young a lot although have some doubts about him doing the show - but other than him I'm not overly excited about anyone. I have a gut feeling someone will probably impress me that I'm not so familar with, like Helen did last series.

Series 6 also had three Eastenders in (Gillian, Phil, Jessie), although they all went out very quickly.

I really don't mind how big or small their name is. They could pick them out of the phone book at random for all I care. In fact ideally I refer it if they aren't too well known. All I care about is if they can keep time, move and progress.

Having watched every series of SCD I can safely say that the 'calibre' of celebs makes absolutely no difference as regards how good the series is for me. I'm completely bemused at anyone who thinks how famous the contestants are makes a difference as to how entertaining is. Why would it? Who the hell is that shallow? The entertainment value of the series comes from seeing how well they can learn to dance and that isn't done to how big a name them are.

Tbh the series always seems better with lots of 'oh I know them' celebs without any big names - the bigger names always seem to bring ridiculous amounts of vitriol with them (like poor Emma Bunton).

I sometimes think that not knowing a celeb makes it more enjoyable as you don't know what to expect. Nor do you pre-judge you can just look at the dancing and develop your opinions based on their skills and/or attitude.
For example, I can't stand Louise Redknapp (in the main from her presenting) so I already want her out, but I'm not sure who Daisy Lowe is so am just waiting to see what she's like.
I feel it's quite an interesting line-up so far, but needs "something" - but I don't quite know what!

I think this is spot on and succinctly put.

^^^^This, last year I knew all bar Jay, and he turned out great after a slow start.

This year we already have some great people, we gave five more so IMHO still too early to finally judge, they seem good. In the past some grew on me, some didn't, a lot is down to how much they personally put into it.

Pixie, Frankie, Gabby, Louis, all stick in my mind as making a big effort, others like Tony Jacklin, Jonny Ball, were minimal effort.

I think so far my problem is that apart from Will Young a lot of people who don't watch vast amounts of programs would think who are they ?
Which might make people not care too much about how they get on. I am a bit underwhelmed, but I'm sure I'll get into the program as usual.

I think there all well known, we have the last four tomorrow, so then this thread then becomes a discussion point, it was far far to premature.

We have a former MP, an Oylimpic medalist, famous singers, Presnters and models, a great line up.