As we do each year, we are currently predicting the pro/celebrity pairings and one factor we often (and sensibly) take into account is height.

However, I'm not sure the producers take it into account to the same extent. The ridiculous pairing that everybody remembers is Colin Salmon & Kristina Rihanoff. But looking back at some old videos, I see the producers have come up with quite of number of odd pairings height-wise. These include:

Nicholas Owen & Nicole Cutler
Kenny Logan & Ola Jordan
Andrew Castle & Ola Jordan
Robbie Savage & Ola Jordan
Ben Cohen & Kristina Rihanoff
Iwan Thomas & Ola Jordan
Jeremy Vine & Karen Clifton
Jay McGuinness & Aliona Vilani

So, while we all try to think logically and use sensible factors to reach our predictions, we could potentially end up with Greg Rutherford & Janette Manrara, Claudia Fragpagne & Aljaz Skorjanec or Brendan Cole or even Melvin Odoom & Natalie Lowe!!!

(Ok, we know these are a bit of an exaggeration but it just goes to show you can't put anything past those pesky producers...)

There are a number of factors, chemistry how they get on, height, age, etc.

Most of those height differences were glaring and quite problematic (everyone but Jay and Aliona, basically ). I had back pain sympathies for some of those guys - they did not have much choice but to dance with their bums sticking out, sometimes! I'm in no doubt that we will have some shocking pairings this year, so I'm not getting attached to any ideals!

(To this day I believe Natalie was supposed to partner Ben Cohen, but then she broke her foot and the producers shoved him over to Kristina )

The two that stand out for me and done based purely on personality and personna; Colin & Kristina because she appeared like a "Bond girl" and Lulu & Brendan for the laughs

BIB: Yes, I've reconsidered on Jay & Aiona. Though he is 6'0'' and she 5'6'', in heels she would be 5'8 or so, so that's not too bad.

As I've removed them, I will add in Ashley Taylor Dawson & Ola Jordan.

in an ideal world a matching height is of course better - think many of the examples you give are just because the producers had to partner dancers who were available - and are all celeb males with pro females - do not think they would ever put a taller female celeb with small male pro dancer.

In the real world there are many successful partnerships with big height differences (particularly in latin where it is not quite as important) just giving SCD dancers as examples ian waite's most successful partnership was with Melanie Walker - Mel barely reached Ian's shoulder in heels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MOrvBsXAP0 and Matt and Nicole Cutler https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZmdfsBrD_g again all are the female are smaller than the male - cannot think of a really successful partnership that was the other way round

Jay at 6ft 1 and Aliona at 5ft 5 isn't a huge height difference, especially as Aliona had 3-4 inch heels.

I agree bendy. It doesn't matter as much as people on this forum think, although a reasonable match in height (lady around 2 to 6 inches shorter) helps and is aesthetically pleasing.

Just to add, and professional male of female dancer should be able to maintain their posture whatever the height of their partner. It is more difficult for an inexperienced male celeb to avoid looking down and hunching when partnered with a short pro.

There have been a lot of successful ballroom partnerships where the lady has been around the same height as the man and some notable ones where the lady was slightly taller than the man, including world champions Bill & Bobbie Irvine and Richard & Janet Gleave (edit: hmm...maybe Richard and Janet were more the same height looking at videos of them together).

I agree there have been a few partnerships (incl ballroom) where the lady was a lot shorter than the man.

I'd say no because the partnership and personality is more important and weather they get along and have a good bond

I too think the producers go on chemistry more than workable heights. But I think the only height pairings that would be vetoed would be where the woman -in heels- ends up taller than the man. Even though in the real world I've had great male dance partners who were shorter than me, I doubt the producers could be faffed to deal with the flak the show would get if they did that, so all I reckon we can say is that Melvin won't be with Natalie or Oti (I don't know Katya & Oksana's heights) and 5'10 Daisy won't be with anyone of 5'10 or less which discounts Pasha, Anton or Giovanni (I don't know AJ, Gorka or Kevin's heights).

For Strictly, I definitely feel compatible personalities should take precedence over a better height match. However, there have been times when the Strictly matchmakers could have done a better job balancing the two priorities. Fingers crossed they don't do anything too silly this year.

Anton and Pasha are 5ft11 and Giovani is 5ft10 so I would rule out Giovanni but not necesserally Anton or Pasha

agree like Lesley with Anton where there's almost a foot difference

Yes it does and it should imo . A very high difference in height will make a couple look really " off " in ballroom dances. It just doesn't work well or visually present well IMO. There's this gymnast ( the best in the world ) Simone Biles who I desperately want to be partnered with Derek Hough on Dwts. Unfortunately, that probably won't happen because she's only 4ft 8 and he's 5ft 11 I think . Even in high heels she would be way too short for him. . Urghhh so yeah height matters and she can only be partnered with one of the shorter pros.
Coming back to strictly, this reminds me of colin and Kristina and ola and Andrew. ..the height difference was just too great and very distracting in routines to ignore.

Why would you want Simone with Derek? He's had more than his share of MBT's!

Wasn't there an article with Alijaz recently where he says that he is sad because he will never be able to dance 'proper' ballroom with Janette due to the height difference?

Thought Ola & Robbie were not too bad, particularly compared to the other tall partners she has had.

Karen did manage to make sure Jeremy danced to his height. Something often not sufficiently managed.

Yes think there was - their height difference is about 12" I think so very extreme - although Alijaz would have difficulty doing 'proper' ballroom to his standard with Jannette due to her very limited ballroom experience

My own parents in their competing days had problems with height (dad 6ft 4 mum 5ft 5) which was in the 50's/60's mum always wore 3 1/2 in heels and had an 'up do' on her hair to help

Predicting a towering beehive for Claudia this series

This is the recent DM article where Aljaz said 'the only great sadness for me is that we will never be able to do a perfect romantic ballroom waltz. Janette is too little to partner me. In ballroom, you need to hold each other in a clasp and the height difference should be around six inches. Anything else we can do.’ Which made me go awww

Thank you Ochre - that was the one

I think Alijaz is too much of a gent to blame Janette's lack of knowledge - far better to put the blame on nature

That's what I was thinking, because, to be honest, what he was saying was a load of rubbish.

There are plenty of ballroom couples that have more than a 6 inch height difference, and they manage. And even more difference with Latin. Just in Strictly, there was Matthew and Nicole Cutler; James and Ola Jordan ....... My own professional partner was 13 inches taller than me - and I can't, because of a foot problem, wear higher than a 2.1/2" heels.

Doesn't look good if the lady is a lot taller than the man though!

I don't think it matter in the competitive ballroom world but I do think it matter in strictly as it puts the celeb at a disadvantage as they are only learning and aren't trained dancers

Interesting- sources regularly vary on height; I found Anton & Pasha's down as 5'10.

Anton's partnership with Jerry Hall saw the latter taller than the man. So sometimes it has to be done. Other tall partnerships where the woman was taller than the man with heels - Lisa Snowdon with Brendan and Penny Lancaster with Ian.

I will never forget Natalie Cassidy trying to excuse the lack of lifts in her jive as due to Vincent and her being the same height ... which they were not!

Precisely because of that, because I want her to win. Not saying she wouldn't win with the others but her chances will be so, so much higher. Also he will showcase her talents brilliantly.