The difference is that we know Jordan, we don't know her. Or are you talking about James when he started? Which I didn't pay attention to

im loving anton and gillian! I think she is going to be really good and suprise everyone
they will be good fun!

well Mark has my vote so far, what a body!!!

On a more serious note I think Anton & Gillian could work really well together as a partnership and Anton and Lisa will be good. The rest I am excitied to see how they get on next week

I am looking forward to Austin Healy in lycra!

I love Camilla- she is one classy lady and I'm so pleased she's got a good partner

Liking Austin as well- the return of Miss Whiplash-hooray

sorry...i was going back to series four when they did the intros to who everyone was. This was one of the first things james ever said hehe!
then people said Ola was full of herself because she said she was 'special'
But I thought they were cool...because the Jordans joined with an attitude that they should be on the show, and I adore them both.
so im glad Kristina has came on the same way...and i think I will like her a lot too.

Not quite right without Nicole, but the show has got me into the Strictly mood- I can feel the addiction returning.

Erin looks so different now, I barely recognised her!

I see. I didn't pay any attention to series four intros to be honest, so I can't comment!

Phew! what alot of couples this year to get my head round, but thoroughly enjoyed it & am getting drawn in once again

Hello all.....

So excited!! Wish it was next week already....my opinion of the show tonight (for what it's worth

Heather, John and Mark may be at a disadvantage with having new pros as partners - well maybe less so Tom as I can seehim getting quite a few ladies votes

Lisa - Bah! Something unlikeable about her. Can't quite think why, but maybe she will surprise me.... not totally convinced though.

I liked Gillian, Jessie, Austin and Rachel, they seem like they will be good entertainment..

Maybe Andrew willin fact lift the"GMTV curse" who knows. He always seems a bit smug. But thats the thing about dancing, you get to see the "real" person. So who knows!!

Don seems like a nice man, and I hope he will do better than my head tells me he will. He's got Lilia, and she can be quite the miracle worker at times!!!

Tom I have no clue about. I don't know his TV character, so I will enjoy watching him "from scratch"

Cherie I think will do ok for a few weeks at least. Phil, hhmm will see, not totally convinced.

Gary - wil have to judge completely on his dancing, because I usually shout at the telly when he's on - It's the "Lisa" disliking for no reason again, although anyone who piles up every dish he makes into towers deserves to be shouted at

Christine and Jodie I'm quite looking forward too, although I agree with the other posters about how gangly Jodie may look, especially in the latin rounds.

I truly think that Nicole should have been kept though. How hard must it have been for her to hear Tess saying they had "scoured the globe for the best dancers" How must she feel. I will miss her this year, and think she could have gone far with a good partner.

Booo to the BBC. Roll on next Saturday though, winter is nearly here!!! I can start wearing polo necks and fancy woolly tights without appearing like a complete weirdo.

Woohoooo

Best couple on the show tonight....

BRUCE AND TESS.

Thank the stars they're back. It just wouldn't be the same in my eyes without them.

One wish- that Tess has stopped wearing belts with her dresses on SCD

I wouldn't put money on it.

And after Claud's puffball dress thingy, I'm slightly worried for Tess.

At least it will give us something to complain about.

That's hardly the biggest problem with Tess' dresses!

Just as long as that brown thing doesn't get another airing

Memo to the dress designers- please stop the bat wings on the dresses

it is Christine and Matt for me all the way. She seems like the only genuine one in there

Phil would have had a much better chance with Nicole Cutler, had she stayed in the show. Dancing with Flavia he stands to be compared with Matt di Angelo too much.

True to form (my form, I might add) I find Mark Foster's body a bit off putting. His muscles are developed over an almost emaciated body, which just looks plain weird.

Christine is going to have a hard job following in Alesha's footsteps.

Don W is getting on a bit, and is a bit unfit, but he looks like he can move his body alright.

I have no idea at present who will win, but I think charisma will be necessary as well as looks and dance moves.

I'm pretty sure they're all real.

Except for a couple of pro's who look like they may know the way around a plastic surgeons office.

Apart from some of the latin dances, I think they will look good together. I know nothing about her, but she looks quite natural.

I think they suit each other well. She seems down to earth, and - I don't know how old she is - but she has a look about about her that suggests old school chic. Can't explain it, but he's better partnered with her than someone like Ola Jordan. I haven't got anything against Ola, but she's better off with the younger, fitter men, even if they can't dance!

I felt the same- please no more open chested Latin tops for him!

Lovely little intro to the couples. My quick impressions so far are:

Lisa and Brendan - He may think he's a 'bad boy' and that he's giving the public what they want by talking about rule breaking. I just find myself rolling my eyes and thinking 'tw*t'. I find the talk of 'chemistry' and Brendan getting all excited about his sexy partner off putting. Could be Brendan and Kelly mk II.

Austin and Erin - Always a fan of Miss Whiplash and I think she's the right person to train Austin. He seems really nice and surprisingly funny. She's quite tall which may make lifts difficult, although his strength should help there. Will look forward to this pairing.

Rachel and Vincent - Vincent's making me laughing already (in a good, fond way!) and she seems like she's fairly down to earth if somewhat unsure of him. Once she's got used to Vincent's ways though I can see that being a good partnership.

Kristina and John - She's a bit too competitive me thinks! John's got a great self deprecating attitude that will probably see him survive a few weeks.

Anton and Gillian - She seems like a good match for him, almost like an older Patsy. She seems up for a laugh and whilst I'm not expecting great things from them I'm sure they'll be decent enough and have plenty of laughs.

Gary and Karen - I think she's the right partner for him because she'll have the attitude to stand up to his domineering chef personality. Whether the public warm to them is in doubt though.

Cherie and James - He may be all sweetness and light now but wait until the training gets more serious... Personally I feel rather sorry for anyone paired with James. She seems nice and I hope he can keep his temper in check if things don't go how he'd like.

Ola and Andrew - He seems nice enough (never massively warmed to her) and I hope he's not as dreadful as his GMTV colleagues were. Doesn't he seem rather tall for Ola though?

Jessie and Darren - Two people that I just don't warm to. I don't exactly dislike them but I really couldn't care at the moment if they went out first. And her haircut is far too harsh.

Lilia and Don - I think he'll be fun and Lilia will get the very best out of him.

Christine and Matt - The sweet couple. He's a darling and she seems very nice. I think she needs a little more confidence though. I hope that grows as she goes along.

Tom and Camilla - Well, at least with him married/engaged there won't be another 'is she dating her partner? look how she flirts with him!' thing going on for the third year in a row (I hope not anyway!). I don't get the swoon factor over him and I wasn't bowled over by his personality.

Heather and Brian - His eyebrows are genuinely off putting when you look at him. She's a nice lady but I wonder if, unless these two are great, then the combination of new pro and relatively unknown celeb will see them out pretty quick.

Mark and Hayley - That really is some physique. Blimey. They're going to have to strap Arlene in extra tight this year. She seemed to be a bit overshadowed by him (and his torso) but they seem nice enough. Like Heather and Brian though I wonder if they'll have sufficient personality to see them through the first weeks.

Jodie and Ian - I always find her very likeable (surprisingly so in many ways!) and I think her and Ian will make a nice partnership. Whether she can get those long limbs under control in the latin however is a big question.

Phil and Flavia - She really didn't look that comfortable with him imo. I don't see much chemistry there.

Well Claire, we have the same thoughts.

Originally Posted by gillypanda


Re Brian Fortuna, are we thinking of David Essex, The Man Who Fell to Earth?

She would be very good acting and singing it but the end cartwheel might get her even if she can crack the dancing. Suzanne Shaw is really good at everything and is going back into the role soon.