It's Beginning To Look at Lot Like Christmas...

You know I can't resist a panto. And there are already quite a few Strictly stars signed up for 2012 board-treading.

Ann Widdecombe and Craig Revel Horwood in Snow White at the Swan Theatre, High Wycombe
Camilla Dallerup in Cinderella at The Place Theatre, Telford
Russell Grant in Peter Pan at the Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury
Lynda Bellingham in Cinderella at The Alhambra, Bradford
Julian Clary in Jack & The Beanstalk at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
Su Pollard (do Christmas specials count?) in Beauty & The Beast at the Spa Theatre, Bridlington

There are still lots of panto casts to be announced, so watch this space for more details.

Next! Noel Gallagher

It's been a while since we had any 'I turned down Strictly' stories, but I never could have imagined that I'd be reading one about Noel Gallagher.

The former Oasis frontman told The Sun: “I’m flattered. I’d have done it an’ all as I’ve recently mastered the sticky task of c***** while dancing. Sadly though, I’m a bit busy. Maybe next time... ”

To be frank, I'm quite glad he said no. I'm not sure I'd be that keen to see him on the show.

Ola Would Like Judge Job

By now, Ola Jordan should know whether she is back for 2012, as the pros were due to find out their fate today.

But even though we now know Darcy Bussell will be joining the panel, she recently admitted she'd like to be a judge on the show.

She told the Daily Express: “Who wouldn’t want to be a judge? I’d love to but I think the new line-up has to be people you don’t expect to be there. I don’t think they should have Arlene Phillips coming back or have Kara Tointon. There should be new fresh blood and they should change all the judges, to be honest. They change the dancers so why not the judges.”

Change the judges? No shock there, after the Jordan's rather public falling out with Craig Revel Horwood earlier in the year.

Byrne Baby Burn

With Westloife calling it a day, Strictly is lacking a ratings banking musical act. How do they get round it? Recruit a band member to the programme.

The Daily Star Sunday reports that producers have signed up Nicky Byrne for Strictly.

A source told the paper: “Nicky’s management think it would be great for him and he is really excited about it. He’s done lots of dancing and loves to perform but he’s never done anything like this before... It’s the end of the road for the boys now and Nicky is looking for his next big ­challenge. It’s perfect timing and he’s already started ­ practising his moves, much to the amusement of the rest of the boys.”

Makarem To Macarena?

Emmerdale actor Rik Makarem has revealed that he is interested in taking part in Strictly Come Dancing.

STV reports that he told Inside Soap magazine: ''There's been talk about it, and I'd never say never. I always saw myself on Strictly - I've got no qualifications other than the fact that I think, from practicing in my bedroom, that I'm a great mover! I'll leave it up to the ladies to decide if I'm right...''

Kara & Artem Are Having Kittens

Kara Tointon & Artem Chigvintsev are having kittens, as a trial for having children.

Artem told the Daily Mirror: “We are taking one step at a time and we have got babies already in the form of two kittens. They are pixie-bob cats so are massive and charge around the house like horses at 5am, which isn’t pleasant. We are testing the water, so it is one step closer to the next step. If we survive then we can go to the next level.”

He also admitted that they are using the current Dance To The Music tour to spend time together: “We are doing it as we want to spend time together. If I’m not working, then I have to be back at home in the States. I would love to move to the UK permanently but, because I have a Russian passport, it’s not that easy.”