S
Steve_uk
Guest
This is not an exhaustive list,but the odds are out on Paddy Power,which I post here with comments. The contestants will be allotted partners on Friday 5 September and will have three weeks to practise. With the absence of Bruce Forsyth the show moves into uncharted territory and will rely more heavily on the force of personality of Head Judge Len Goodman than ever before,who already carries the American version Dancing With the Stars on his shoulders.
The confirmed participants are:
1) The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright has been made favourite in the betting,but his nickname as "Marky no-moves" suggests their confidence in him may be misplaced. He's the right age though,at 27. 5/1
2) Blue boy band member Simon Webbe is a more realistic possibility. He has form from the Christmas 2011 special and will take the competition seriously. Aged 36. 6/1
3) Singer Frankie Bridge will be hoping to follow in Abbey Clancy's footsteps,and she certainly has the accoutrements to dazzle. She's the right age at 25,though her previous dance experience is unknown. 6/1
4) Eastenders' Max Branning aka Jake Wood fulfils the BBC employee role,though at 42 he's older than Scott Maslen,who found the latter stages hard going in 2010 at a younger age. 8/1
5) Rugby star Thom Evans will hope to do better than predecessor Gavin Henson. These sportsmen don't have the greatest track record in the competition. 8/1
6) Award-winning naturalist Steve Backshall might pull a surprise at 41 years old,having the physical stamina necessary to reach the final rounds. 10/1
7) Casualty star Sunetra Sarker has last year's flawless performance of co-star Patrick Robinson to live up to,but I can't see her standing out in a crowd and at 41 it's asking a lot of her. 10/1
8) Similarly with Alison Hammond,the producers love to find an overweight actress who surprises the likes of Lisa Riley,though this television presenter is more likely to be an also-ran. 16/1
9) With the Scottish referendum not far off the BBC executives will want to be seen to be all-inclusive,and self-publicist Judy Murray fulfills this role perfectly,though at 54 she'll just be there for the ride. 25/1
10) Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills is the latest celebrity to be confirmed as participating,but again I don't see him standing out in the talent crowd to threaten the top places.
By rights there should be five more contestants confirmed shortly,including the "fading starlet" and the "boring old fart" category. After Vanessa Feltz's untimely remark last series that "Jews can't dance" it wouldn't surprise me if the talent scouts are out as I speak looking to prove her wrong.
The confirmed participants are:
1) The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright has been made favourite in the betting,but his nickname as "Marky no-moves" suggests their confidence in him may be misplaced. He's the right age though,at 27. 5/1
2) Blue boy band member Simon Webbe is a more realistic possibility. He has form from the Christmas 2011 special and will take the competition seriously. Aged 36. 6/1
3) Singer Frankie Bridge will be hoping to follow in Abbey Clancy's footsteps,and she certainly has the accoutrements to dazzle. She's the right age at 25,though her previous dance experience is unknown. 6/1
4) Eastenders' Max Branning aka Jake Wood fulfils the BBC employee role,though at 42 he's older than Scott Maslen,who found the latter stages hard going in 2010 at a younger age. 8/1
5) Rugby star Thom Evans will hope to do better than predecessor Gavin Henson. These sportsmen don't have the greatest track record in the competition. 8/1
6) Award-winning naturalist Steve Backshall might pull a surprise at 41 years old,having the physical stamina necessary to reach the final rounds. 10/1
7) Casualty star Sunetra Sarker has last year's flawless performance of co-star Patrick Robinson to live up to,but I can't see her standing out in a crowd and at 41 it's asking a lot of her. 10/1
8) Similarly with Alison Hammond,the producers love to find an overweight actress who surprises the likes of Lisa Riley,though this television presenter is more likely to be an also-ran. 16/1
9) With the Scottish referendum not far off the BBC executives will want to be seen to be all-inclusive,and self-publicist Judy Murray fulfills this role perfectly,though at 54 she'll just be there for the ride. 25/1
10) Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills is the latest celebrity to be confirmed as participating,but again I don't see him standing out in the talent crowd to threaten the top places.
By rights there should be five more contestants confirmed shortly,including the "fading starlet" and the "boring old fart" category. After Vanessa Feltz's untimely remark last series that "Jews can't dance" it wouldn't surprise me if the talent scouts are out as I speak looking to prove her wrong.
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