According to an article in yesterday’s paper, The Sun seems to think that it knows who this year’s contestants … and whilst these names aren’t yet confirmed, a number of these names have also been reported elsewhere, so there’s a good chance that many of them are right. The official announcement is due on 28th August, and will be published on the show’s official website.
This year’s series of Strictly is going to be even longer, which mean even more celebrities. In case you’re wondering, here are the 16 contestants (in alphabetical order).
- Andrew Castle - formerly a professional tennis player, he’s been more successful as a TV presenter that he was in his sporting prime. His voice should be familar to Wimbledon viewers. Likely to be a ‘housewives favourite’ given his time as a GMTV presenter opposite Kate Garraway. Let’s hope he’s a better dancer.
- Austin Healey – this year’s Matt Dawson? Like former runner-up Dawson, he was an England rugby international, so he’s likely to have the typical sportsman’s work ethic. Known to be pretty outspoken, you should expect him to answer back if he doesn’t like the judges comments!
- Cherie Lunghi – a British actress whose busiest days seem to be behind her. I can’t claim to know much about her, but I’m sure SCD’s older viewers will…
- Christine Bleakley – co-presenter of BBC’s ‘The One Show’, but having not watched that, I can’t claim to have ever heard of her. According to her Wikipedia page, there have been (strenuously denied) rumours that she’s ’seeing’ co-presenter Adrian Chiles – if that were true, it seems a bit of a mismatch in the looks department. Let’s hope for her sake that she’s not paired with Brendon Cole…
- Don Warrington – actor, apparently most famour for ‘Rising Damp’. Sadly that’s before my time, so I’ve never heard of him…
- Gary Rhodes - British chef who’s likely to be one of the best known celebrities in the competition. Will be at home in front of the camera after fronting his own cookery shows as well as ITV’s ‘Hell’s Kitchen’. Also addicted to exercise which could well make him popular with the show’s female following.
- Gillian Taylforth – actress, most notably in ‘Eastenders’ and ‘The Bill’. This year’s Leticia Dean?
- Heather Small – lead singer of M People, although they might have split up from all I’ve heard of them recently. Used to have exceptionally large hair, but her official website suggests that it’s no longer.
- Jessie Wallace – the most famous of the 3 former Eastenders stars, Wallace used to play Kat Slater, winning plenty of awards. I suspect she might be pretty good – she’s performed in a musical, Rent, in the West End, which probably required some attempt at dancing!
- Jodie Kidd – model and TV presenter, who’ll definitely add something in the looks department. Being in Strictly might help rebuild a slightly tarnished reputation after last year’s cocaine sting
- John Sergeant – I worry that the former BBC Chief Political Correspondant could end up being this series’ Diarmuid Gavin, but I suppose he’ll be hoping for a more respectable performance a la Bill Turnbull. The jury’s still out on this one.
- Lisa Snowdon – model, best known for dating George Clooney, so don’t be surprised to see her paired with Brendan Cole who probably fancies himself as a bit of a Clooney. Went to Italia Conti School of Performing Arts, so i’d make her one of the favourites to win.
- Mark Foster – British swimmer, recently flew the flag for UK team at Beijing Olympics. No idea if he can dance, but at least he should be comfortable exposing his chest with some of Strictly’s bolder costumes!
- Phil Daniels – the 3rd former Eastender, he’s also known as the rapper on Blur’s ‘Parklife’ and star of The Who’s Quadrophenia. I doubt he’ll be a very good dancer, but expect him to be a popular member of the cast.
- Rachel Stevens – stunning pop star who first made it as part of S Club 7. Things appear to have been quiet for her in the last couple of years, so SCD could well be the start of a major relaunch. All she needs to do now is dance as well as Alesha Dixon and she’ll be back in the public eye.
- Tom Chambers – apparently he’s been in Holby City, but even his Wikipedia page doens’t know much about him…
**UPDATE** – THE SUN WAS RIGHT – THE BBC HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THESE ARE THE 16 CONTESTANTS IN THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION – SEE HERE FOR MORE**
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