Strictly 2012

Have I missed it?

Fine thanks Tom. Still sprinting, jumping ... that kind of thing. Been encouraged to get back dancing as excellent cross training over winter. Music to my ears.

How are you ... I've seen you post on Middle Ground occasionally. I'm mainly on Fetch these days though I must admit.

Woohoo! Found the new thread, thanks Sharkie

Here's the round up of the 2012 celebrities and their partners:

• Fern Britton (and Artem Chigvintsev) - TV presenter
• Dani Harmer (and Vincent Simone) - former 'Tracy Beaker' actress
• Victoria Pendleton (and Brendan Cole) - ex-professional cyclist and Olympic gold medallist
• Sid Owen (and Ola Jordan) - 'Eastenders' actor and former pop star (apparently?!)
• Nicky Byrne (and new pro Karen Hauer) - member of Westlife
• Johnny Ball (and Aliona Vilani) - TV personality (and Zoe's dad)
• Kimberly Walsh (and Pasha Kovalev) - member of Girls Aloud
• Jerry Hall (and Anton Du Beke) - former model and rock n' roll wife
• Lisa Riley (and Robin Windsor) - former-Emmerdale actress
• Denise Van Outen (and James Jordan) - actress and tv presenter
• Michael Vaughan (and Natalie Lowe) - ex-cricketer and England captain
• Louis Smith (and Flavia Cacace) - professional gymnast and Olympic medalist
• Richard Arnold (and Erin Boag) - TV presenter
• Colin Salmon (and Kristina Rihanoff) - actor (and head of MI6 )

*cha cha chas into new thread*

Oooh it's all sparkly

*waves to everyone*

Early favourite for me - Louis Smith. I'm expecting to see some fairly swish moves from the gymnast

Shall we keep the new thread? Or go with the old one....

I don't mind but a new one might be easier to keep up with. And I do like xine's neat round up to kick it all off.

Looks like Louis is a hot (phwoar eh) favourite already. And such a 'nice' young man. Smirks. No he IS. he was fabulously gracious about that silver medal. Top lad.

Louis Smith for me too, a very talented, charming man (and very good looking!). I hope that he's able to pull off the less exhuberant dances too, that seems to be a criticism that is often levelled at the contestants with a gymnastics background. I especially hope that we get to see him tango with Flavia - that should be really special

I'm really happy with this year's lineup, a lot of potential and I think having four judges with professional dance backgrounds - whether as dancers or choreographers -  will be a big improvement.

My boyfriend is also very happy with this year's line up as in addition to the professional dancers (Ola and Kristina especially) he's got Victoria, Kimberley and Denise to watch!

Yes, much as I liked Aleesha as a contestant and her general demeanour, I never really feel she contributed much to the judging panel. Let's hope Darcy turns out to be good value and not a dis-ahhhhh-ster!

xine: absolute snap (seem to remember us agreeing fairly frequently last year) yesterday I said to Raffo (my OH) that I thought Favia and Louis could do a great tango. And I so agree about the judges.

I do hope there will be fewer idiotic 'funny' clips. More training please  - that's what's fascinating. But I fear it's a forlorn hope.

Saw Matthew Bourne's Play Without Words a while ago at Sadler's Wells. It was totally brilliant. Have booked for the new Sleeping Beauty in early December. Also went to see Top Hat with Tom Chambers in early June. It's still on and I do recommend. The female lead - Summer Strallen - in the Ginger Rogers role was a complete revelation to me. She was sensational.

What with the Olympics too am now seriously broke.

But happy.

Bear - I hope so too!  I remember Ali Bastian often being criticised for being too balletic, so it will be interesting to see how Darcey turns her hand to judging ballroom.

sharkie : Ah yes, my fellow Matthew Bourne fan! I missed Play Without Words - gutted! - but I've also got tickets to see Sleeping Beauty in December (on a Sunday, just in case the BBC come through with my Strictly tickets on the Saturday nights!). I will have a look for special offers on Top Hat tickets, I saw Singin' In The Rain a few months back and was really disappointed so was a bit sceptical about another big Hollywood adaptation but if it comes recommended I will give it a go!

Roll on 5th October

I would have thought there were too many tattoos around for Tom to enjoy it ?

Just means that the TV can be switched off all Saturday night rather than just part of it.

I like the look of this year's line-up and am looking forward to seeing what they can do. I can't think who the new female pro has replaced though (I have the memory of a goldfish these days!)?

I didn't think much of Darcey as guest judge last year but thought it might be that she didn't want to say much as she was only there for 1 week. I do hope that we get some real insight from her this year. Loved her dance with Ian - even if she did have to correct her position at the vey end.

Victoria Pendleton, Darcey Bussell, Flavia Thingummyjig (amazing dimples)... oh dear, am I going to start watching a prime-slot Saturday night TV programme on a regular basis??

Vicky P has thighs you could crack walnuts on.......

Slugsta - I noticed that ...right at the end - a little wobble. But she still moves so beautifully, gorgeous line and extensions  - but then you'd expect that. I've read she hopes to be constructively critical. Do hope so.

xine - Thanks for the heads up about Singin' in the Rain, we did consider it. For me mainly on the strength of Adam Cooper. On investigation it had mixed reviews and bizarrely I've never liked the film that much. I saw a clip recently and thought I really should give it yet another go, and try and appreciate Gene Kelly  - I somehow don't (now there's an admission).

The music in Top Hat is all Irving Berlin and just fabulous. Several numbers that weren't in the film are seamlessly introduced including Let's Face the Music and Dance. Raffo REALLY enjoyed it (he's quite blokey but a bit arty too I guess)

Oooh a darrrrrrnce thread... I really should get on with some work!

You have good taste in women Phil all class athletes (cos dancers are) as well as serious lookers.

No orange blondes in your list!

I expect Vicky P will be instructed to apply the fakebake fairly soon though. It was noticeable how classily pale she looked next to Kimberly 'Orange' Walsh. Who I don't dislike and am hoping to warm to. Not her fault she's from the wrong side of the Pennines

Dave The Ex- Spartan wrote (see)

Vicky P has thighs you could crack walnuts on.......

Think I'll invite her round for Christmas then.

Well lets wait and see.

My totally based on nothing early views are:

• Fern Britton  - Perhaps one to struggle
• Dani Harmer - No Idea what she may do
• Victoria Pendleton - will have the fitness to do well. The legs may be a bit too well defined to look balletic but definitely look good  Gold Medal should get her through the early weeks. In the first two weeks you can;t really say how will somebody will dance so tends to be a populairty vote.
• Sid Owen -  Could be one to struggle. Need to trade the Thunderbirds Brain glasses in for some contacts for dancing i suspect.
• Nicky Byrne - No idea
• Johnny Ball  - 74 is some age for this although he looks pretty spritely. Suspect Ballroom will be good but Latin might be more of a challenge (mind you that sounds like a description of Anton Du Beke!)
• Kimberly Walsh -probably the most down to Earth of the loud girls. She could do quite well not that the band's dance moves ever looked much.
• Jerry Hall - American so may struggle. Not being personally biaised but the foreign contendors on Strictly have never done that well, unless they were Australians who had pretty much become honorary Brits. She may get a following but won;t start with one I suspect so early weeks will be a risk for her.
• Lisa Riley - a large lady and can't help think she is going to struggle. However suspect she may have a personaility that might get her some votes early on and if she gives it a go the Brits love a tryer.
• Denise Van Outen - has been at pains to say she doesn;t have dance background. Nonetheless she is one who may well be quite good and interesting match-up with James.
• Michael Vaughan - Suspect he might be more Tuffers than Ramps but lets see
• Louis Smith - He really should be an early favourite. Certainly fit enough. Will have great strength so could be into lifts early. Does he have the flair though? Male Gymnasts are more strength than finesse but lets see. Either way his Olympic medals should get him through the early weeks and should get he grandma vote as well, Possibly biggest risk is that he does start really well and then plateaus. Would be an early favourite though.
• Richard Arnold - I am not sure why but just think he is going to struggle.
• Colin Salmon - He has the bearing to do well. Lets see how he goes. Vary tall though and perhaps should have got Natalie Lowe. Kristina might be a little short for him and he may tend to lean forward too much rather than keeping posture

All of the above is totally subjective and based on nothing really so lets see how they go. As a local Bedfordshire lass and Olympic star then Vicky will get my early sympathy. She'll certainly give it a go.

Mind you everybody usually does, well apart from Quentin Wilson!