Random thread I know, but people often say that 2009 was the worst line up of all time. I'm not sure I agree though. Yes, there were far too many actors/actresses but at least amongst the eight actors, Natalie Cassidy, Ricky Groves and Lynda Bellingham all had a lot of longevity as celebs.

However, what was very good in 2009 was the inclusion of lots of high-profile, generally current sportsstars. Richard Dunwoody, Joe Calzaghe, Tuffers, Martina Hingis and Jade Johnson were all fantastic signings no?

No It was as bad as everyone remembers it to be. All the celebs you mentioned weren't fantastic signings at all !! Very forgettable series, but the following one made up for it - 2010 was a very good year.

With the bigger sport signings; Richard, Joe were hopeless. Martina was first out. Jade was always overlooked.

So we were left with an endless amount of actors and poor dancing in general. Not to be awful, but the better dancers; Ricky, Ali didn't have the personality to attract voters. It wasn't a surprise to me when Chris won

My favourite that year was Laila though. It's a shame she had a few Katie Derham moments and made costly mistakes.

I thought Tuffers was quite a good dancer, but his injury stopped him going further.

Oh yeah, I completely agree, it was just so bizarre that out of the Final 6, 2 were from Hollyoaks, 2 were from Eastenders, and they were generally unlikable/dull

Don't remind me! It was the first time since I'd gotten into Strictly that I was happy to miss an episode or two

Nah, it were rubbish. I'm baffled as to how the show thought 15 RADA rejects void of human emotion and Chris Hollins would make for an entertaining series. Throw in a few age and race scandals for good measure and you've got a TV series in need of a revamp (and praise the lord that it got one!)

I never understood why they had 2 from Hollyoaks and 2 from Footballer's Wives.

It was just a really weird series. A lot of the potentially interesting celebs either couldn't dance or were booted far too early.

The problem with 2009 was that the best of the dancers, Ali and Ricky, were dry personalities. Zoe Lucker had potential but was too nervy. Jade was my favourite and might have made it to the final but for her devastating injury. Ultimately 2009 recalls how the little man managed to win despite being an average dancer and recalls the sack of potatoes who partnered Flavia. Thank god Flavia was rewarded with Jimi the following year!

Richard and Joe tried, but couldn't dance.

Martina was a big name and might have been able to learn to dance given more time, but was very ill. Jade said Martina was throwing up just before the live Show.

Tuffers was entertaining, funny and there was a good chemistry with Katya, because he was very lazy but had potential.

Jade was doing well until she got injured.

Ricky Whittle was one of the most naturally talented celeb male dancers ever on the show.

Lynda Bellingham was well known and liked, and could dance quite well.

Natalie was a reasonably good dancer.

Ricky Groves suffered from something like stage fright.

Rav actually did well in his dances, considering he had never danced before, but didn't have a fan base.

Laila had potential that Anton didn't develop enough. Their Charleston was an indication of what should have happened in many more of the dances than just a few Ballroom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So7Rcgxu-G8

it was one of my fave years

Martina - unfortunate that she got ill, although she didn't seem particularly excited to be there - could have been good casting, they were just unlucky with circumstance

Richard - like Anthony Ogogo, was too injured to compete, it was just less visible. He was pretty bitter when he left as well - not good casting

Rav/Lynda - didn't gel with their partners at all - might have been good casting but poor work by the sorting hat

Joe - good casting just because the gap between the hype and the reality was the most hilarious thing to happen all series, also Kristina got a shag out of it good for her

Jo - good casting because she took the edge off Brenda after he had to play the villain for five series on the trot

Zoe - potentially good casting but was stuck with James when he couldn't catch a break with the public vote, so poor pairing-up work because he really could have done with a year off ringers.

Craig - didn't gel with Flavia, and created a sour taste generally when the judges called him delusional but kept on saving him in the dance-off, only encouraging him. Doubt he ever could have been good casting though

Phil/Jade - likable journey contestants who both got scuppered by injuries - could have been good casting but again, unlucky with circumstance

Ricky G/Natalie - eh - both overmarked and annoying, don't think either were good casting but I can't really judge objectively because personally they irritated me

Laila - just an all-round car-crash. Didn't gel with her partner, picked up injuries, got involved in scandals, didn't have much time to train. Somewhere between being poor casting and being alright casting done in by circumstance

Ali - feh

Ricky - could have been good casting but like half the others done in by circumstance (getting arrested, dumping his girlfriend mid-run, Natalie not really "getting" the show, even if they did get on)

Chris - saved the show for the mainstream audience, so good casting from that angle, but it has to have been an accident because he's never showed anything like the charisma people saw on the show before or since.

So I think it was a mix of poor casting, poor pairing, and bad circumstance. It could have been a decent cast, especially if it were a 14 person series, and God didn't so relentlessly the show with bad luck.

I quite enjoyed the series despite some of the disappointments. It was a shame about Phil, and Jade in particular. Craig never bothered me, but then I know from 'real life' that it is quite common to be a bit delusional about one's dancing ability. I was happy with Chris winning.

I have a big soft spot for Natalie Cassidy, her tango and paso were marvellous, and her relationship with Vincent was cute.

I hadn't heard that about Richard - interesting! It really was an unlucky Series.

Rav and Aliona did get along at the start. I think it was when he was looking for a reason why he wasn't doing as well as he expected, that they fell out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB2_LEGUyyA

The BBC boards had some hilarious threads about how Craig was "blackmailing" the judges into sending him to Blackpool.