I remember reading an interview with Karen in which she said that she had no idea who Mark was and that when she phoned him and she asked his surname - apparently Mark said its long at which she started to tap in Mark Long onto her phone - so would suggest that she had no say in the partnership

Don't think they can dictate Karen had just asked if she could have someone who is good, whether she gets that we'll have to see.

I said to Nicole that I hopes she got someone good and she said so do I!

Maybe the producers take into account dancer popularity would imagine Lilia and Karen would head female pros and they may get better partners to please the public

I think Dippy is right here

I feel quite a lot depends on the Beeb and if there is anyone they'd like to see do well especially they will give them the best possible partner

And that usually comes down to who has the best record in the competition.

Grr if they want GL to win she's bound to get Ian or Brendan

A colleague at work suggested that after Mark - Karen will probably be partnered with Bernard Manning or John Prescott Made me LOL

Lol, What I enjoy is watching how the celebs adapt to the training and doing something that they are not known for

I would just add that, despite Lilias undoubted popularity, I really do think she is the one mostly likely to get an old duffer this year. She has had 3 young and relatively slim male partners in 3 successive years (Aled and then two sportsmen). The beeb will surely give the others a chance in SCD5.

If I had to bet my house on who was going to win, without knowing the pro/celeb pairings, then I would go with Flavia and whichever male pro is partnered with a sportwoman.

Flavia because she is and will be even more popular despite her limited stint on the show last year. And because I believe the BBC will want to make up for her abrupt departure from SCD4 due to Tarbys retirement.

Secondly, with three sportsment on SCD4, I think the BBC will be doing their utmost to entice a sportswoman onto the show - someone in the Denise mould. And I reckon a sportswoman/male pro partnership has to be a tip for the final and eventual winners. How about Dame Kelly Holmes, or Sally Gunnell (Sally was in the audience for SCD4 semi-final - though I think she is 40 which will conflict with my age 40+ rule).

Briefly - Yay and Huzzah to the DIVINE Flavia
- Aaargh and eeurgh to charmless, stroppy Kelly H (remember her on DOI?!)
Also, agree with you re lovely Lilia

Btw - is Sian W REALLY 41?! Sally G's quite a good egg BUT (dreadful statement coming up) I always think sportswomen don't look very graceful. I always felt that's what let Denise down - she was excellent, hardworking, talented etc etc but lacked that dainty elegance that lady dancers need. That's a shocking statement coming from a bruiser like me but, alas, I feel its true. And its very unfair that it doesn't apply to the male sportspeople!

Poor Kelly had a horrid experience on DOI - I don't watch it but I saw a clip of one of the male judges implying that she looked like a man - disgraceful - I really admire Kelly - DOI might put her off

And no thanks to Sally Gunnell with that voice of hers or Sharon Davies

Dennis Taylor mentioned that Steve Davies won't do it, but that Ronnie O'Sullivan is thinking about it.

Don't count on the BBC putting fairness first when it comes to Flavia- look at what they did to Nicole! IMO fairness is quite a long way down on their list of priorities, especially compared to ratings.

I agree they might decide to limit Lilia's chances since she has featured so heavily in the last three series... but then they won't want to have too many "old duffers" as you put it, and if the one they choose happens to be on the tall side then they can't give him to Lilia.

Yes, I think Sian is 41. As for sportswomen, how about Annabel Croft the ex. tennis player. She looked suitably feminine to me.

or Sue Barker

You're right - they don't come much more feminine than A Croft! I think the main issue is the 'strong' upper arms that sportswomen often need to excel in their sports - they just don't look too dainty or elegant in the sleeveless dance costumes. Mind you, neither does Madonna (double, triple, quadruple !) with her toned and buffed limbs. Shudder.

Althooooo' - dancers have to be uber fit and toned as well. Cf Flavia, but she's the very epitome of elegance

Can't bear it that we've got another 5 months before we really DO find out who's on SCD

I've just remembered a story I read a few months ago that the BBC are desperate to get Natalie Cassidy to sign up. If that's true, that would be the two short men sorted out- I would imagine:
Vincent and Sian
Darren and Natalie

And its not just Lilia, I also happen to think Darren will be lumbered with a no-hoper. They don't necessarily have to be zimmer frame dependent old duffers, just partners whose physique and advancing years (over 40) might mean they have an uphill task in mastering, performing and competing successfully against their oponents.

The Darren/Lilia duo have featured heavily in the last 3 years. Both reaching the semi-final in SCD2 with Darren winning, Lilia winning SCD3 and both reaching the semi in SCD4 with Lilia in the final. I think the BBC will decide to handicap them both this year with suitably less agile partners.

Of course, these are just my random thoughts on the subject, and I did say I'm prone to ruminating and waffling on about this and that conjecture. I'd right you a thesis given half the chance.

Maybe it's because I occasionally and wistfully wonder what might have been if I'd pursued a career in academia.

If I was a young whippersnapper (which regrettably I am not) with a rich father (which sadly, I don't have) and was an intellectual genius in the making (which alas, I am definitely not), I could well see the appeal of burying myself in the depths of a Mathematics Faculty for 40 years until it was time to retire. Knock out a couple of PHD's, write a handful of obscure tomes and mediocre textbooks and foist them upon hapless undergraduates, whilst all the while amassing a huge wardrobe full of nothing but corduroy jackets with leather patches etc, etc. Must beat the real world hands down.

Sportsfan

I work with academics - for the sake of your sanity and those around you do not go down that road

It's a good job I didn't, especially with my appalling spelling - in the above I used 'right' instead if 'write'.

I wouldn't worry about it - your deliberations make sense

Sorry to Sian ... she's actually 42, she'll be 43 in November. I don't think she looks of behaves like she's that old though. There's something so youthful about her ... maybe it's the way she dresses ... I love her clothes. Sorry, am blatantly waffling.

Agree with everyone else -- Sian & Vincent would would amazing, especially if Vincent treated her like he did Louisa.

xxxxxxxxxx

Sian maybe be 43 in November - does not make her old

No, of course not its just that I honestly thought she was in her 30s - even early 30s. Curse these pretty, slim little things Actually, its probably her lovely smiley demeanour that makes her appear younger

I know - it was VP's use of the owrds "that old" You'd think she was a 110 Hope you are keeping well - I would love to see Sian with your Vicent

It's not as easy with Darren though because his contestant has to be very small- no more than 5'4'' I would have said. If the two shortest females happen to be suited to the competition, as happened this year, then Darren and Vincent automatically get good partners. The celeb line-up is too important to mess about purposely choosing short women with no potential just for the sake of handicapping Darren. I don't know if the BBC would favour Vincent over Darren either, since they got to roughly the same stage last year.

I think Lilia will probably find herself with a "duffer" this year, but I'm not certain the BBC care that much. The majority of viewers are not going to remember which pros did well in previous years anyway. I watched series two casually, voted for Jill Halfpenny, but had absolutely no idea which pro had danced with her when series three rolled around. I remember trying to work it out and deciding it was Anton

I'm just wondering now, in view of above comments, about the possibility of Darren and Lilia not being asked back this year