Don't think i've seen a thread like this but who do you think has had the biggest fanbase going into the show and has it had it's advantages?

also, do you think it's a disadvantage going onto the show being less known, even if you're a better dancer than the ones with a bigger fanbase behind them?

Well not really. The likes of Natasha and Chris Hollins weren't well known when they joined Strictly and they won.

Natasha was probably the best known (/popular) newsreader at the time, so that is incorrect (in her case).

I had never heard off Jay until the last series, and certainly wasn't impressed when I saw him, but I was hooked after his first dance, and voted for him every week until the finals.

Naga and maybe Lesley (Antons got quite a fanbase you know which should see her avoid elimination next week)

Pasha's got quite a fanbase too so that might help Naga, along with Carol last year

Peter Andre? He got through when she should not have done, but was it down to his fan base or the Producers???

I am such a big fan of Anton that even when he has a duff partner I want him to get through I just love watching his ballroom and Lesley was pretty ok. But she is getting on a bit and I wonder how she will fare with the more energetic dances. I like her as as an actor too, and her appearance on Celeb Come Dine With Me was a classic!

That's a question for someone with encyclopaedic Strictly knowledge, ie. Monkseal.

Some of the boyband members that have sold lots of records, appeared at Award shows and had headlining gigs/concerts have generally done okay, but some haven't. Harry (Mcfly) and Jay (The Wanted) won, but Simon (Blue) was in the bottom two a couple of times (needing judges help), while Nicky (Westlife) didn't really get near the final (despite his band selling loads in the UK). So, sometimes the fanbases help, but I'm guessing Harry and Jay also won lots of new fans from Strictly, and so I think the show's overall fan numbers are really important in balancing out the uber fan vote.

I think, given that the best technical dancer hasn't always won, personality/popularity are determined from day one of the show and celebs with sizeable prior fanbases don't always figure so massivley, as the celeb is not doing what they were famous for, they're doing something for fans of the show to newly become fans of/or not. Even old fans may not take to their dancing (over another) despite liking them alot (for what they have already proved to do well).

Strictly does have a range of fans, age wise, so some celebs, like Daniel O'Donnell won't be known by all of the show's fans, so it's only the dancing some voters can go on (if have not prior loyalty) and if celeb aren't good at dancing or at least engaging to some degree then no previous music/acting etc success is going to matter.

If the celeb is not engaging as a dancer/person then even a popular Pro can go out early and can't save them. Pros' seasons depend a lot on their partner, as one year they're a winner and the next year they go out midway or before. Only Kev really seems to buck that trend, though he's never had an awful dancing celeb.