Evening all!

Long time lurker here but have recently joined up and this is my first thread!

Was wondering which Pros do you think will be back in 2017 and who will be the spares?

You'd think if they all come back Neil and Chloe would both get partners, so assuming they sign up the same amount of celebs, who do you reckon would sit out?

I for one would really like to see Chloe get a partner next year? Thought she was great on ITT and can't wait to see the Christmas Special.

It's a shame because I thought her and Neil would be used more e.g. on ITT and during the pro dances etc.

If either get the Judges Job Anton or Brendan may go.

I'm not sure that Gorka or Osksna have made enough of an impression this year. So they would be my choice to sit out or leave. I don't think there will be many leaving however.

I would like to see the Cliftons go (sorry for starting the bashing) but I don't see that happening.
I have a feeling Natalie may leave, but don't want her to.
I hope that Anton, Brendan, Pasha, Oti and Katya definitely stay.

Yeah I don't get the impression that Oksana is in it for the long haul on Strictly...doesn't her husband live in America or something?

I would like to see more of Gorka...feel he and Tameka had a lot more to give.

My choices, assuming they all stay, to sit out would be Brendan (always seems pretty disinterested and phoning it in) and as much as she seems like a lovely person maybe Janette? Just feel she is one of the weaker pros when it comes to teaching and choreography.

For me, of the new pros, Katya and Gorka are keepers. The rest I can take or leave.

I had wondered what the purpose of Chloe and Neil has been. I assumed they were spares in case one of the pros was injured or unwell. But when Brendan was poorly it was Gorka not Neil who stepped into the breech. So I am still wondering what they were booked for.

Yeah I thought that too! TBH I can't understand why they'd both agree to be on Strictly under these terms...I mean not meaning to be rude but they're basically window dressing and not really involved much.

It's a shame because I think they were both great on CC and would have liked to have seen more of them but they both seem to have been shafted tbh.

I know Neil is married to Katya so can sort of see why he'd agree to it but why would Chloe? Could she not have found another partner and competed for a year with a view to joining properly in 2017?

The only pro I'm not sure will return is Jo, just because she seems really keen to move into performing on the stage and she's getting some decent jobs, so I think she might focus more on that. I think Natalie and Karen will both have another year and I think we'll see both Katya and Neil stick around.

Of the guys...the only ones I think might go is Gorka (I hope he stays) and maybe Giovanni. I think AJ will stick around and I hope he does - I think he's done a good job this year.

I'd like to see Oti, Katya and Oksana next year definitely. Also Gorka - didn't see him enough this year. Happy to see Pasha, Aljaz and Giovanni again. Would normally say Natalie but I think maybe she's had enough now. Not sure about Janette, lovely girl but I'm not keen on her choreography. I like Karen more than Kevin or Jo but in any case, they can all go as far as I'm concerned. Brendan can definitely go and I wouldn't really miss Anton. Not that taken with either Neil or Chloe - or AJ for that matter. Would like to see him with someone else though so would be happy enough to see him back.

I think it depends on which the celebs are available. For instance if there are no shortish, youngish women, I don't think there will be a job for AJ. I think Gorka will go, he needed to make more of an impact off the dancefloor.

If I had it my way, I'd say keep the same 17, and keep AJ and Janette as spares or for ITT or whatever else. But I doubt it will happen.

I hope Pasha, Aljaz, Gorka, Giovanni, Janette, Oti, Natalie, Katya, Neil, Oksana, AJ and Chloe stay. Not fussed about Anton, Brendan, Jo and Kevin. Not a fan of Karen, if she left I wouldn't care.

Please, please, please let AJ, Chloe and Neil go. Some say Kevin is a camera botherer but he is nothing like as bad compared to Neil.

I've always liked Brendan but not feeling any enthusiasm off him so wouldn't be heartbroken if he left.

Keep Gorka, he could be really good and the rest are pretty good at their thing.

Katya's efforts this year must surely have secured her job for next year, which would mean Neil back as well.

Janette, Karen, Natalie and Oksana must surely all be dependent on whether they decide to start a family or not. Joanne might think about concentrating on the stage over Strictly if Thoroughly Modern Millie is a success, but I suspect she'll be back next year regardless.

I wouldn't miss Kevin or Giovanni, and I'm not sure if Anton and Brendan will be back. Otherwise I suspect the pro line-up won't change a lot next year.

I think Neil was training for CIN when Gorka stepped in for Brendan.

I think CIN and the Christmas show are 2 reasons that extras are needed. It could happen any year that almost all female or male celebs go out early, as happened this year. Will could still be in the show now, if so Karen wouldn't have been free to dance in both Specials.

The results show pro dance last week would also been even more imbalanced, without Chloe and if Karen was still in the competition there would just have been Nat and Janette on the female side.

Katya and Oksana have impressed me this year, especially Oksana, so I would like them to come back next year. I feel Brendan, Pasha and Natalie are at the end of their time on the show - unlike Anton, Brendan and Pasha give up trying if they get a no-hoper, but the show does need older Pro's for the older contestants so it's tricky.

If AJ hadn't been in the show they would have no one else to give Claudia to because he was the right age and height. Maybe he won't be back, but I think he's come off well this year.

Definitely want to see Neil and Chloe partnered with Celebs next year, I'd like all the new Pros to return. Katya's proved herself to be an absolute star as has Oksana in a more understated way, AJ's partnered Claudia brilliantly and Gorka seems to adapt well to different partners having seen him with Tameka and Anastacia. Looking forward to Chloe and Gorka on the Christmas Special.

Hope Jo will do at least one more series on Strictly alongside her move in to Musicals.

Katya must return! She's the best new pro they've had for some time and I would love to see her with a ringer. I'd like to see Neil with a celebrity. I think Oksanna and Gorka should come back as well. Not so sure about AJ though. He was only hired because the other pro were to tall to dance with Claudia and honestly I feel his inexpreince has let her down a bit. Someone else said imagine what Vincent could have done with her.

Giovanni needs to sit out next year to learn a bit of humility.

Height wise he would have been perfect but Vincent was too old at 38 to be paired with a 19 year old, so AJ was the best fit really.
Giovanni's like Vincent in that respect - he was full of himself as well but a lot of it's just tongue in cheek.

Oksana can sit out for me too - she leaves me cold. I'd also like to see Neil swap with AJ to show us what he can do.

There is no way Janette will sit out. If rumours that Karen is off to start a family are to be believed, the former and Aljaz will become the new Strictly 'golden couple'. Also, she is perfect for those celeb not blessed with height.


This


Neil may have been ill too - does anyone remember if he was in the Claudatorium that week?

I just feel Janette's partners never seem to improve technique-wise and find her choreography a bit dull. She seems a lovely, bubbly person though, that's why I think she would be good on ITT.

For me, of the new pros, Katya definitely deserves to stay after being so good with Ed. That probably means Neil will as well. Oksana, I'm not sure about. Maybe she wants to do a Gleb and use Strictly as a springboard for DWTS? Feel Gorky deserves another year. As for Chloe and AJ, think it will depend on which celebs they sign up next year?

For me, good pros are the ones who have won a series or may be even some tour shows. All the others need to prove.

AJ to go and Gorka switch them with Neil and a new pro then keep everything else the same

In the still depths of the night, I did wonder if perhaps Neil was being lined up for Judge-dom. Just my tin-foil hat talking really.

Apart from that bit of craziness, I'd be sorry to lose any of them. The show lost a lot this year and I'd like all of the newbies to stay to build up a bit of continuity. Jo does seem the most likely leaver if her stage career takes off and she commits to a long tour. Natalie is another possible leaver if she decided she wanted to start a family. I can't remember if she's ever mentioned that in the past.

Same here! Unsurprisingly

Gorka and Katya have been wonderful and have really shone. Talented dancers with great personality and humour.

Can't see any point in Chloe and Neil. Neither stands out in either personality or dance ability. She's pretty but forgettable and he takes Irritating Twit to an art form.

I quite like Oksana but always feel she is a million miles away, in her own head, just waiting for the train to arrive.