No-one Is Bigger Than The Show

In an interesting comment to The Sun, Len Goodman has revealed that he was once told that if all the presenters and judges perished, they could all be replaced and the show would continue without them.

The Huffington Post reports that Len told the paper: “As long as I feel I do the show to the best of my ability, then I’ll keep going until they kick me out. And I think I’ve got a few more series in me yet. But there are loads of people who could replace me. I’m sure they would find someone. The producer, Izzie Pick, once told me that if a plane crashed and all the judges were killed — with Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly — the show would still go on. They would find new people to replace us. But I don’t worry about that call saying that I am being dropped — it is what it is.”

Strictly "Didn't Want" Adlington

Olympic gold medal winning swimmer Rebecca Adlington has always made no secret of the fact that she wanted to do Strictly. But after talks with producers, it was felt that she wasn't right for the show.

Rebecca told the Daily Mirror: “I would have loved to have done the show but unfortunately they didn’t want me. They didn’t think I would fit in with the balance of the people. I met them but it didn’t work out this time. I will still be glued to it every weekend though, I’m a big fan.”

I'm really surprised by this. I think that due to her enthusiasm about the show, she would have been better than Victoria Pendleton. I can't imagine why they wouldn't want her. Someone please enlighten me.

Vanessa Feltz Confirmed For Strictly

Vanessa Feltz has been confimred as the first celebrity participant in this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

The announcement was made on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show by Zoe Ball yesterday morning.

Here are a couple of pics that were posted on the official BBC Strictly Twitter feed

 

Have You Seen It Yet?

The BBC started airing the first trailer for Strictly Come Dancing tonight. If you missed it, it stars several of the pros dancing with their invisible partners.




Today, there have been a few pictures appearing on the BBC's Strictly Twitter feed. Can you tell who they are?

Apparently, there will be Strictly-related announcement on the Radio 2 Breakfast Two with the gorgeous Zoe Ball tomorrow morning. Tune in!

The new series begins with the preview show next Saturday, 7th September at 6.50pm. Why am I always on holiday when these things happen??

Kristina And Joe Split

Kristina Rihanoff & Joe Calzaghe have reportedly ended their four year relationship.

Joe and Kristina started dating after they were partnered together on Series 7 of Strictly, but their busy work schedules have caused them to spend too much time apart.

UnrealityTV reports that Kristina told The Sun: “Joe is a good man who I will always care about, but it makes sense to part company now. It is nothing but amicable, and we will have nothing but good memories and good thoughts about each other.”

Countdown To Strictly

The countdown to the Strictly launch show is on, and the rumours are flying.

The Daily Star reports that Countdown's numbers girl Rachel Riley will be taking part in the new series. Although they make this claim without so much as a quote from a "source". Hmm... 

They also report that former Coronation Street actress Natalie Gumede is also on the list. In hypathetical terms, Natalie told the paper: "Strictly is something that I'd really enjoy doing. I'm a huge fan and would love to get the sequins out and be partnered with Brendan Cole."

The Daily Mirror reports that The Sun has named golfer Tony Jacklin as a participant. It seems he's a mate of Sir Bruce's from the golfing circuit. Kenny Lynch next year, then...

Other names linked with the show have included Abbey Crouch, Sophie Ellis-Bexter, Vanessa Feltz, Anneka Rice, Diane Youdale (Jet from The Gladiators), and Dave Myers from The Hairy Bikers.

Final New Pro

The BBC have revealed that the final pro to join the Strictly line-up will be Anya Garnis. Anya is Russian, and like many of the other pros she appeared on the US series of So You Think You Can Dance. She has also been in the Broadway production of Burn The Floor.

So the newbies are Anya, Kevin Clifton, Iveta Lukosiute, Janette Manrara and Aljaž Skorjanec.

Next! Barbara Windsor

Barbara Windsor is the latest celebrity to reveal that she has turned down Strictly, mostly due to health concerns.

The Daily Mirror reports that the actress told The Sun: "I have been asked to take part in Strictly but have said no. I think I am at an age where I don’t want to learn any more."

Len: We Don't Remember Winners

Head Judge Len Goodman has admitted that he can't always remember the best performers on Strictly, but the dance disasters stand out in the mind.

He told the Belfast Telegraph: "It's a bizarre thing, but we all remember the Ann Widdecombes and the John Sergeants and Russell Grants. Quite often we remember them more than we remember the ones who win."

It is a sad fact about Strictly that some of the most talented performers just blend into the long list of former participants. For some, Strictly will be mentioned in every article written about them, for others it never gets mentioned. And some aren't even famous anymore.

Kevin "Nervous" About Joining Strictly

New Strictly pro Kevin Clifton has admitted that he is excited but also nervous about joining the cast of the show.

He told the Grimsby Telegraph: "I'm really excited about it. I'm thrilled. It's the biggest show in the UK and a massive part of everyone's lives. It's a big thing for me, as it is for Karen. The fact that we will both actually be on the programme is pretty awesome. I am kind of nervous. It's such a big show."

I don't think Kevin has anything to worry about. I'm exited to see him take part.

Strictly Celebs Will Earn At Least £25,000

All of the 2013 celebrities taking part in Strictly Come Dancing will receive a fee of £25,000, rising to £75,000 if they make the final, with a couple of other pay steps in between.

STV reports that a source told The Sun: ''All of the celebrities get the same standard fee on Strictly. Strictly is pretty much a full-time job from the beginning of September to Christmas for those who stay until the end. It is very different to sitting around a house or eating bugs in the jungle. A lot of the contestants put in eight-hour days every day to practise their routines. It often means they have to give up other work they might have taken on to put their all into the show. Strictly is also seen as a prestigious show to be on, so it's not all about the money.''

New Pro: Kevin Clifton

Burn The Floor veteran Kevin Clifton has reportedly joined the Strictly line-up for 2013.

Kevin will join his professional partner and fiancée Karen Hauer in the line-up. 

A source told the Daily Star Sunday: “The Strictly pro dancers have performed some of the sexiest routines we've ever seen on TV. And when two dancers are ­together in real life there is no ­mistaking the sexual chemistry ­between them. Strictly beat The X Factor in the ratings last season and bosses have been doing everything to strengthen the professional dancers. Signing up Kevin to join Karen on the show will set temperatures ­soaring once again. These two are one of the hottest dance couples out there. It’s going to be one hell of a new series."

Kevin is a fantastic dancer, and he and Karen were amazing in Burn The Floor. I am absolutely thrilled that Kevin will be a part of the show.

Meanwhile, it seems that Emma Slater has now been dropped from the pro line-up. Her name has been removed from the official Strictly blog, and while all the pros started rehearsals in Britain this week, Emma was still Tweating from New York.

The odd thing about this change is that there is now an uneven ratio of male and female dancers, fuelling speculation that the show will get it's first same-sex couple this year.

Strictly Champ Natasha "Forced" To Do Show

Series 1 winner Natasha Kaplinsky has revealed that she was pushed into doing the show, and tried everything she could to get out of doing it.

She told the Daily Mirror: “I got completely forced and put into a corner at the BBC. I’d just started at BBC Breakfast and obviously the bosses at Strictly had a shopping list and a newsreader was on it and I was their easiest target. I honestly tried every single excuse not to do it, but I was cajoled and in the end I ran out of excuses. I was absolutely petrified. It’s not easy to be a female in the journalistic world. I worked very hard to get to the BBC and I felt really concerned that Strictly Come Dancing was going to change how people would perceive me and to a certain degree it did. I felt very self-conscious about putting on sequinned clothes and performing, because that wasn't my job. My job wasn't about me, it was about the news, so to suddenly put myself in the middle of the dance floor on a Saturday night was insane – I was the most nervous I have ever been in my life.”

I'm not actually sure why this is news. It was clear to anyone who watched the first series that she was not comfortable. She constantly said she didn't want to do it, and took a long time to find her way on the show.

Maybe it's news because she's dropped off everyone's radar since those days on BBC Breakfast, and an upcoming series of Strictly is a good way to get her name back in the papers.

Dancing By Design?

Could It Takes Two's frock-watcher, designer Julien McDonald, be heading for the dancefloor?

According to the Metro, a source told The Sun: "Julien would be great fun and producers hope he would bring his celeb mates to cheer him on."

In my experience, people find Julien quite irritating in small doses on ITT. I'm not sure how people would take him on the full series.

Ben Cohen To Go Up And Under?

The rumour mill is in full grind, and the latest name to be added to the list is England rugby star Ben Cohen.

The Sunday Mirror reports that producers hope he will become Strictly 2013's heart-throb. A source told the paper: “Ben is gorgeous and we have high hopes he will be the latest Strictly pin-up. We can’t wait to see him on the dance floor.”

Next! Michael Owen...

Michael Owen has revealed that he turned down Strictly Come Dancing, in favour of a trip to the Australian jungle.

He told the Daily Star: “I've just been asked to do this year’s I'm A Celebrity.... I got offered to do Strictly ­before but turned it down. If I was ever going to do one it would be the jungle but I would need to be offered a few quid to do it, that’s for sure.”

Dancing On A Daley Basis

Diver Tom Daley has revealed that he would like to go on Strictly Come Dancing.

He told DigitalSpy: "Strictly and Dancing on Ice - they're both so sparkly... I'd do either. I'd have to speak to my friends and let them vote which one."

If you are friends with Tom Daley, tell him that Strictly is much better and warmer (and safer) than the ice dancing show. Tom's pecs would be wasted on DOI, but think of how perfect he would be for paso...

Moves Like WAGger?

Model and WAG Abbey Crouch has reportedly signed on the dotted line to take part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, and will move to the south while she is part of the show.

A source told the Daily Mirror: “Abbey is really excited to be appearing on Strictly. All her family and friends watch it and [her husband] Peter is being very supportive – he can’t wait to see Abbey in her slinky, sparkly costumes. Obviously living in Cheshire is not ideal when contestants have to train at least five times a week. She and Peter are, therefore, looking to rent a place in London and have their eye on a gorgeous £3million pad on a very desirable road. Abbey’s already in fantastic shape but is looking forward to learning new moves and getting even fitter. She’ll be a fantastic contestant."

Of course, we've all seen Peter's robot moves - I would be surprised if that doesn't make it into one of Abbey's routines at some point.

Strictly Goes Back To Black...

Strictly Come Dancing is to return to the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool in 2013.

It's not clear if it will return for the final, or an earlier stage of the competition, but producers are keen to return after a year of cost saving prevented the trip.

A BBC spokeswoman told the Blackpool Gazette: “We’re thrilled to be returning to Blackpool this year to the Tower Ballroom. It’s such an iconic venue for dance, and an honour to take Strictly to such a venue once again."