Three New Pros For 2015

The BBC has announced the pro line-up for 2015, and there are three new pros and two departures.

Iveta Lukosiute and Trent Whiddon will not return. Robin Windsor who was forced out of last year's series due to injury is also not in the line-up.

Robin thanked everyone for their support on Twitter:

Sadly I will not be returning to @bbcstrictly this year - I have had a fantastic 5 years and wish everyone the best of luck!
— Robin Windsor (@Robinwindsor) April 23, 2015

Three new pros join the show.

South African Otlile Mabuse was a pro on Let's Dance, the German version of Strictly. 

Here is a video of her performing with Marius Iepure in the 2014 WDSF PD World Championship:



Giovanni Pernice is Sicilian. He won the Italian championships in 2012.

Here is a clip of him performing his favourite dance, the jive, with Erika Attisano at the 2011 Ancona Open:

The final pro is Russian Gleb Savchenko. He has performed on the Russian version of Strictly, partnering Olympic gold winning figure skater Adelina Sotnikova. They made the final. He was also a pro on Dancing With The Stars in the US.

Here is a clip of him performing with Adelina:

The rest of the pro line-up remains unchanged from last year.

I have to admit that one of the biggest surprises for me was the return of Ola Jordan. After her injury training for The Jump meant she missed the final, I was convinced that she had burnt her bridges.

I am very sorry to see Trent go. Of course, he was buoyed by having an amazing partner in Pixie, but I thought he brought some innovative choreography to the show, and he came across really well. I warmed to both of them over the course of the show, and I am sorry to see him go.

I'm also sorry to see Iveta and Robin depart. Both are well liked, and I can't really understand the logic. Robin has been a great ambassador for the show. I do hope that the press speculation about the potential for Strictly's first same-sex partnership did not factor into the decision. We'll all miss Iveta's interesting wardrobe!