Only seven male spots in the parter rotation next season, with nine on the cast this year. I’m calling Anton to be Len’s replacement, leaving eight. Aljaz, Kevin and Neil are all safe since they have partners on the show in the form of Janette, Karen and Katya respectively. Brendan would stay in hope that either Craig or Bruno leave down the line. AJ would also stay after a successful year with Claudia. Gorka I could see calling it one year and done but something tells me they’d want to keep him as the new hunk, and with Pasha getting either average or subpar partners since he won with Caroline I can see this being his final year, as well as his hunkhood redundant because of Gorka.

They’re not gonna hire anyone new next year with the 6 hires they made this summer.

What goes against this is rumoured suggestion that all 17 pros signed a new two-year contract deal with the show… in which case I see Brendan leaving of own accord providing Anton gets judge assignment.

Nooooooooooo

Well I think it might be Joanne. She has a major West End show lined up for January, she seems more excited by live performance than TV. So if she takes of in the West End I can imagine her choosing this over Stricty

How about they keep Pasha because he's a good dancer who's popular with the celebs and popular with the audience? No need to overthink things.

I think it could be Joanne as her West End career seems to be really taking off.

Natalie possibly, everybody thought she was acting like she was done, with the tears on ITT after her and Ainsley's exit, but with three other girls announcing they'd quit I wonder if Natalie was asked to stay on to keep a bit of continuity, which could also explain being given someone good on paper for a change.

I think Pasha has a few more years yet, he seems happy and settled with Rachel so not sure why he'd choose to leave.

All the couples are obviously there to stay a while.

Who knows what will happen with Brendan and Anton. presumably they're both still there to duke it out for head judge, now that main presenters have been nicely sewn up by the ladies.

I'd prefer they ditch Darcey when Len goes and get Aliona and Tristan back to judge.

Natalie - as per the Ian and Natalie show I saw earlier this year has a 2 year contract. Straight from the horses mouth

Anton and Brendan would be more likely. Either of them could be taking Lens place next year so I think this will be their last year

Very complex line of deduction. No actual evidence I take it? Just an active imagination? Why does having a partner in the show make Aljaz, Neil and Kevin safe? It hasn't been of great benefit in the past. Matthew Cutler stayed after his partner went. Anton has survived the departure of his professional partner. Ola survived after James was shown the door. Did Lilia and Darren leave in the same season?

1 - bendymixer, a fellow FM who belongs to the dance world, has posted in other threads that she heard that TPTB are looking into real judges from the dance world. So, Anton could be a maybe, but not something definite.

2 - Having a partner on the show does not translate into securing a place in it, see what happened to James Jordan.

3 - AJ may or may not be successful with Claudia. We can't predict the future.

4 - How could you possibly say that Gorka will leave at the end of the year? Do you know him personally? Are you his confidante?

5 - Pasha's "hunkhood redundant because of Gorka"...Ermm, Aljaz, anyone?

6 - How could you possibly know the producers aren't going to hire anyone new next year? Are you one of them?

7 - Brenda has said more than once that he is happy to be there while they have him, don't see him "leaving at his own accord".

I agree with others that Joanne s the most likely to go if her musical theatre career takes off. Also not sure how long Oksana will stay whilst her husband is living in the US and working on SYTYCD. I went to to see Ian and Natalie's show and as aggs says, Natalie said the pros have signed 2 year contracts this time.

Change is good, but personally I like some continuity and time to get to know the pros - some are now more famous than the celebs!

I think that Brendan will get fed up with being Anton II and being given the second "mature"woman. His own shows are highly successful and he tweeted over the weekend that they have a bought a property in Mallorca so maybe he will be spending more time with his family. He's still my favourite dancer but I think it must be getting "old" for him (and Anton) who have been in for 10 years

Didn't backstageone state that the pros had all signed contracts that committed them for both this series and the next one?

Besides, Pasha's one of the most liked and recognisable pros and I don't think they'll want too much overhaul with the pro line up for a second series in a row.

Oh if only! Not a fan. But I think he's going to have a good show this year, Naga looked pretty good, even though I was gutted she got Pasha. I feel about him the way many people feel about Anton

That's probably the one-way street of an 'option' clause, i.e. Strictly has an option on you for a further year, but they don't have to honour it.

Yes, s/he did and s/he also said that the pros who represent the Strictly "brand" at the moment are Anton, Brendan, Pasha, Natalie, Janette and Aljaz, and Karen and Kevin.

I have a feeling this might be Karen's last year, though by her choice, as she's been very vocal about wanting to have kids soon. She's done 5 years on strictly and has (on paper anyways!) her best partner so far for this series so would go out on a high. She and Kevin are very well-known now and have started up their own dance school, and if Kevin remained on strictly it would keep their profile high.

I can't really see any of the other female pro's leaving after this year though (unless Joanne is offered a particularly fantastic theatre role, but I think she'd choose strictly and theatre-tour in the off-season as she is currently to be honest) but stranger things have happened in the past!

That's how it works in America but new pros have to obligate themselves for 5 years or so though the show has no obligation to use them at all. Tony Dovolani signed for 3 more years recently - and he's been dropped just this series (though he'll probably be back - ours pop in and out a lot).

I think Anton will switch from pro to judge next series, taking Len's spot. And I'll guess that Oksana and AJ will be one and done's. I think Joanne might be on probation as well, having been demoted after her first go with whatshisname.

[quote=Elsa;83842445]That's how it works in America but new pros have to obligate themselves for 5 years or so though the show has no obligation to use them at all. Tony Dovolani signed for 3 more years recently - and he's been dropped just this series (though he'll probably be back - ours pop in and out a lot).

I think Anton will switch from pro to judge next series, taking Len's spot. And I'll guess that Oksana and AJ will be one and done's. I think Joanne might be on probation as well, having been demoted after her first go with whatshisname.[/QUOTE

I hope that AJ stays...he's a fantastic dancer...I've seen him and Chloe many times on the Amateur Dance Circuit .....He's a Very Dedicated Hard Working Dancer who's paid his Dues and So Deserves his place on Strictly.......

Good Luck AJ......and Chloe....

Everyone is assuming that Anton will take over from Len but I'm not so sure?
There is a highly regarded judge called Nicky Miles from Kent who would make a simply fabulous judge and guess who his best friend is - Len Goodman!
Everyone knows and loves Nicky and he knows everyone and there is a very large groundswell of support for him!

I predict that Anton will carry on.

A quick glance at the board this morning..... and I see Terry has been up early and giving his keyboard a good old thrashing!

I don't think Pasha will go, I think Anton will replace Len so he will go, I think Neil will take his place on the pro line up been a British Pro, I think one of the new male pros either AJ or Gorka will be a 1 year wonder, I also think like has being previously said if Joanne makes a success of the acting I wouldn't be supprised if she goes too

Lilia and Darren were both removed from the competing pros at the same time. They were offered the chance to be part of the "dance troupe" instead, just taking part in some pro group performances. Darren accepted, but Lilia was furious about not being able to compete, and declined. This meant we saw Darren for an extra year after Lilia left, but not very often, because he wasn't actually competing.

I wouldn't be that bothered if he were to leave - he seems totally disengaged when he isn't given a ringer (looking at you, Caroline and Kimberley!) or someone with great potential (Chelsee)