I am never quite sure about that. Some celebs are never going to hand over their career and public image to someone else without trying to have influence behind the scenes. Widdy insisted on Anton as part of the deal, for example.

The more I watch this show, the more I realise the key factor is how the pro copes with the celeb's personality and ego.

Ta for info on Neil. Shame, would've liked to see him a bit more.
One thing, looks like there'll be laughs this year with celebs with a bit of personality.
I've never see Judge Finder...he's a scream!
Sparks will fly with Anastasia and Brendan I reckon.

That depends if your holiday sounds better than mine then i might change my destination!

Susanna was a contender?

It seems I'll have to turn off the sound when she's on.

On one of the most popular tv programmes they have, in my opinion, 2 of the worst tv presenters. Neither are strong enough to carry the show. Lucky for them, the show can carry them.

The official BBC Strictly channel have uploaded little Q&As which each of the celebs if you're looking to kill a few minutes

Absolutely

Look at the fantastic DWTS hosts and it makes you cringe.

Plus, the way OTT camp is becoming unwatchable. I know people who refuse to watch the show. If they made it more serious like DWTS manages to do they'd get more tuning in.

Not on dance ability perhaps, but she was in the final and her and Kevin were very popular with the voters, so for those reasons I would consider her a contender.

This year's Kellie Bright

I've met Ed a couple of times and I know some folk who had dealings with him when we had a Labour government. He came across as a lovely person and I understand that he was well regarded by those who worked alongside him.

There are plenty of people tuning in. And We dont need DWTS

Sorry but I'm totally opposite there. Tess is fine, Claudia is great and the ridiculousness combined with the love of dancing is what gives the show its charm. The guy on DWTS is just so nothingy and it takes itself far too seriously. I've tried watching it but it's dire imo. I don't want serious. I want good dancing and fun entertainment and SCD gives both. The less like DWTS it is, the better!

Not getting Bake Off ratings though.

As I said. People I know think the show is terrible and when I ask them to watch it the over the top camp mission strictly intros is very off putting.

It's been doing just fine.

So you're content with comedy VT's and OTT campy intros that even made me a huge fan of the show cringe.

DWTS is not perfect but they do it better with the hosting and actually give meaningful VTs about the celebs time on the show.

Intro being slammed in the press.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/s...nsense-8763166

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbi...lous-and-naff/

It was probably the worst one we've seen.

Hear, hear!

The Sun is owned by Murdoch who hates the BBC, so...you just have to put two and two together

That Sun article gives it a rave review and includes positive tweets. Despite the link text suggesting otherwise

True, but I think she was an unknown before the series started. There probably wasn't any way of predicting her success, considering she spends all her life sitting on a sofa

Edit: but I agree Kevin was seriously lucky(?) in that all his other partners had previous experience

LOL I just posted the link. Ooops

I still think the vast majority of the audience did not like that intro.

Last years was much better. On the Train I think it was.

Who thought of Space as the main theme???

I really enjoyed that, a really fun and likeable group of celebs, I'm much more interested in this series than recent ones.

Talk about playing up to the camera, she's really irritating, she can't go soon enough for me.

I've not read the whole thread, no time, so it may have been mentioned earlier, but I'd have put money on who would be Claudia's partner. He's the shortest male dancer.

Gawker the corker.