Think Of A Contestant

Will vereran mathematician and TV presenter Johnny Ball be revealing all on the dancefloor this autumn?

Johnny, father of former participant and It Takes Two presenter Zoe, is 74, which would make him Strictly's oldest participant yet (not counting June Brown who did the Christmas special at 83).

A source told The Sun: “Johnny might be 74 but he’s got some puff. He has looked after himself over the years and is really game. It would be foolish to write him off as some old duffer just there for laughs, like John Sergeant. He’s been showing off some moves in training that would put much younger celebs to shame.”

I really hope this one is true. Johnny is such a lovely man, and was so proud of his daughter on the show. I would love to see him to her proud too.

More Olympic Rumours

Olympic silver medal-winning gymnast Louis Smith has joined the long list of Olympians tipped for the Strictly dancefloor.

A source told the Daily Mail: "Harry [Judd] was such a success we want to book someone with the muscles to match. The fact Louis is an Olympic medal winner makes it even better."

Rebecca Adlington Is Not Doing Strictly This Year

Rebecca Adlington has put the Strictly rumours to bed, by tweeting that she won't be taking past.

She posted on Twitter: "As much as I LOVE strictly come dancing I won't be doing it this year (despite what the media say) due to the charity bike ride I'm doing!"

Emma Willis: “I Would Love To Do Strictly"

Presenter Emma Wills would love to do Strictly, and thinks she's a pretty good dancer.

The host of Big Brother's Bit On The Side told TellyMix.co.uk: “I would love to do Strictly… I think part of what I worry about going on Big Brother would be that it would really f**k with my head. But Strictly, I really want to be able to dance. Dancing is something I could really be good at… and the body you’d get at the end of it would be slamming! To know how to bust a move out in public… incredible!”

The Great British Dance Off

Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood could be cooking up some smooth moves on Strictly Come Dancing this autumn.

A source told The Sun: “The Great British Bake Off has been a huge ratings success for the BBC and we are delighted that Paul is now on board. The hope is that millions of fans who love to watch him and Mary [Berry] deliver their baking verdicts will also tune in to watch him hit the dance floor. He has a reputation for being a tough cookie and it will be interesting to see how he copes once he is out of his comfort zone.”

Girl Allowed?

Could Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh be heading for the dancefloor?

The Mirror reports that she is the latest celebrity to join the line-up. A source told the paper: “When we heard she was interested we were thrilled. Now everyone’s dying to see her moves. She’s a great name to have got.”

Kimberley has been playing Princess Fiona in Shrek The Musical in London's west end, and has all of her Girls Aloud experience behind her, so she should be pretty good.

Heading For The Dance Fl-oar?

It sounds as though gold medal winning rower Mark Hunter be like to swap his oars for the dance floor.

He hasn't said it as specifically as some of his Team GB colleagues, but did drop a hint to The Sun that he would be interested: “I have had one or two offers of reality shows but none of them really appeal to me at all, although other shows do. There are some that show people in the right way and others where it is just people trying to make a name for themselves. I don’t watch those and I wouldn’t want to go on them... But I really enjoy the dancing ones — they are amazing.”

Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!

Could Jerry Hall be heading for Strictly Come Dancing?

A source told the Daily Star: “Everyone will want to know if, like the song, she moves like Jagger.”

And that's pretty much all there is to the story. I might as well just throw names into the pot myself now. I'm pretty sure Spuggie from Byker Grove is going to be in it. Everyone wants to know if she'll be as firey as her hair, or something.

Beyond The Velodrome

Gold medal cyclist Victoria Pendleton has revealled that she would like to take part in the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing.

She told the Daily Express: “If they asked me I’d definitely consider it. I can’t dance and I’ve always wanted to be able to, so I’d really enjoy that. Plus, I’ve been in sweaty Lycra for the last I don’t know how many years, so being in a sparkly frock and high heels really appeals to me. Instead of wearing a helmet it will be lovely to have my hair smooth and sleek. I’m really into my beauty products, it’s been my one indulgence.”

Nobody tell Vicky that ballroom and Latin dancing involve a lot of sweaty lycra too...

Brendan Cole: Crime Fighter

Brendan Cole turned crime fighter recently, making a citizen's arrest of a bag snatcher at Baker Street station.

Brendan told the Daily Record: “There was a guy who was trying to get into a handbag, under his rucksack. I turned round and stopped to make a fuss and after I checked the girl was all right, I stuck with the guy.”

Nice one, Brendan!

The Strictly Olympics

A bun fight is developing over all of Team GB's gold medal winners, as Strictly producers go head to head with I'm A Celebrity... and Dancing On Ice to sign them up.

Among those being targeted are Bradley Wiggins, Lizzie Armitstead, Ben Ainslie, Beth Tweddle and Rebecca Adlington. Wiggins and Armitstead have reportedly already been offered close to six figures to go into the jungle.

A BBC source told The Sun: “Our priority is to secure as many London 2012 medal winners for this series of Strictly as possible. We want to get some big sporting names on board.”

No Corrie-ography

Coronation Street producers have reportedly banned all its actors from getting involved with Strictly Come Dancing.

According to The Sun, the ban does not extend to similar ITV programmes.

A source told the paper: “It’s a no-brainer for us. Why would we allow cast members time off to go to film a show for a rival channel?”

The source suggested that the BBC was interested in recruiting Corrie actress Michelle Keegan: “The BBC’s offer never got off the ground — we wouldn’t release her from her contract. That goes for everyone else in the cast but we are more open when it comes to ITV shows.”