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The celebrity lineup for series eight of Strictly Come Dancing has been announced.


Heading up the bill are Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams, Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe and movie star Jimi Mistry.


This year's soap stars hitting the dancefloor include ex-Corrie actress Tina O'Brien and EastEnders duo Scott Maslen and Kara Tointon.

Rugby player Gavin Henson, The Good Life actress Felicity Kendall, ex-Blue Peter star Matt Baker and

Holby City
's Patsy Kensit, who had all been strongly rumoured to be taking part, have also been confirmed.


Completing the list are surprise additions DJ Goldie, TV magician Paul Daniels, ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and comedian and psychologist Pamela Stephenson.

The eighth run of the reality show will also include a new set, which features a 9m x 14m dancefloor, three glitterballs and six new spherical chandeliers, 300m of red velvet drapes and 1250m of LED lighting.


Strictly
returns with a special red carpet launch show, hosted by Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly, on Saturday at 6.25pm on BBC One. During the show, the 14 celebrities will be introduced to their professional partners for the first time.


twitter.com/bbcstrictly

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Reference: erinp
We have new Pros too ,any mention of them?
Here are three of them:    Artem Chigvintsev, Jared Murillo and Robin Windsor






Excerpt from a BBC SCD website:


"ARTEM CHIGVINTSEV, a Latin Champion who is a graduate of 'So You Think You Can Dance' in the US and has unique experience of very different dancing genres in addition to his ballroom champion-level skill.

JARED MURILLO, who at 21, was a US open Swing Youth champion. Trained in America, Jared was a principal dancer in the movies 'High School Musical' 1 & 2.

ROBIN WINDSOR has completed five world tours of a worldwide ballroom show. He says that he's not a "conventional" style of ballroom dancer. "


It appears that their backgrounds are not solely based on ballroom dancing.
It makes me wonder if the BBC are trying to "popularise" the programme (which may not be a good idea in my opinion.)

brisket
Last edited by brisket
I have been reading about rugby player Gavin Henson (ex boyfriend of Charlotte Church.)
He is in a new "adventure"  series, filmed in the Arctic which is introduced by Gethin Jones.
Gethin comments - in friendly banter - that Gavin would not allow the extreme conditions deter him from his waxing and tanning routine.
While others struggled to maintain a fire and prepare food in the morning Gavin would be melting his wax.
Gethin, on Twitter, comments "It's all about the tan Henson."
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/s...ctic-91466-27203019/
So for SCD Gavin Henson will already be waxed and tanned. 
brisket
I admit to being slightly anxious about possible changes in style.
Some of the new professionals may have done some ballroom dancing, but the bulk of their backgrounds has been in film and stage and television productions and choreography, as has Craig and Bruno.

Len might be hard pressed to uphold the flag for proper ballroom dancing this year.
This "popularising" of television programmes (in order to appeal to a certain age group) is not popular with me. My guess is a drift away from "Strictly"  towards "So You Think YCD".
I do hope I'm wrong.
brisket
Reference:
I'm glad Tina O'Brien is doing it also, still got to wait yet to see her in a schoolgirl uniform for when she joins Waterloo Road This is a surprise, even though I know that some of the Waterloo Road pupils are actually in their early twenties or something.

Tina's the big sister though, darlo.. surely no school uniform?  I'd hope not - considering the 'younger' sister looks about 24!      I'm not feeling the WR love as much this time - I don't want it to be all about the head's family.. I want it to be about the rest of the school too.
Kaffs
Reference:
I admit to being slightly anxious about possible changes in style. Some of the new professionals may have done some ballroom dancing, but the bulk of their backgrounds has been in film and stage and television productions and choreography, as has Craig and Bruno. Len might be hard pressed to uphold the flag for proper ballroom dancing this year. This "popularising" of television programmes (in order to appeal to a certain age group) is not popular with me. My guess is a drift away from "Strictly" towards "So You Think YCD". I do hope I'm wrong.
I'm a little bit concerned too, Brisket - I'm not a fan of scrapping the dance off tbh.   The comedy element could go straight through to the end.   Also the dances on Dancing with the Stars seem a bit more 'showy' then class ballroom - and it looks like Strictly might be going the way of DWTS.   Won't stop me watching, mind!
Kaffs
Just a point about Michelle Williams.
I would imagine she will have done a little dancing during her stage act with Destiny's Child.
But I am absolutely sure that she has danced in the musical Chicago. This would necessitate some training, working  with a choreographer, and dancing in public for cash. (A professional dancxer then?)

On a lighter note - this is from Gethin Jones's Twitter:-

GethincJones

Henson will be the first ever contestant to wear less fake bake on the show, than on a normal day !!! ;-)
brisket
It's a bit daft to be publishing betting odds really, mainly because we haven't seen anybody dance yet.
However here are the odds as displayed by William Hill:
Kara Tointon    4/1
Michelle Williams    9/2
Matt Baker    9/2
Scott Maslen    6/1
Tina O'Brien    6/1
Gavin Henson    8/1
Jimi Mistry    10/1
Patsy Kensit    10/1
Goldie    20/1
Felicity Kendal    25/1
Pamela Stephenson    33/1
Ann Widdecombe    66/1
Peter Shilton    66/1
Paul Daniels    66/1
brisket

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