Strictly Come Dancing 2018

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It should have ended when Len left.

Really? Seems to me its as popular as ever. Line up always gets criticised at the start but thats forgotten about as it gets into the swing of things

I should be getting *very* excited about Strictly... instead I'm only getting *mildly* excited.

Is it because of the line-up? (Kate Silverton is one of my least favourite newscasters, and my view of Ashley Roberts is rather coloured by her time as a judge on Dancing on Ice... ) Is it because Brendan won't be there? Or is it simply a sign that, after nearly 15 years, the show might just be starting to tire a bit - even though it'll almost certainly attract 10 million viewers and thrash the X Factor once again?

I'll still be following it, though. There *are* some good celebs this year - Danny should be a great laugh if he gets far enough in the contest, and the same with Swanny. Of course, cricketers tend to do quite well on Strictly...




Although Lauren doesn't quite have the same disability as Jonnie Peacock, she still has a lot to live up to after his run to Blackpool last year (which might also have been a factor in him finishing third in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award).



And how far will Susannah go? To think that she and Trinny were absolutely massive names in the early and mid-2000s - before they made their ill-timed move from the Beeb to ITV, coinciding with the rise of Gok Wan. (My ma still has two of their books, though.)

Another thing I'll still be doing is looking at the bookies' markets from time to time. Including right now...

Paddy Power: Ashley 7/2, Vick 6/1, Lee 8/1, Faye 8/1, Danny 8/1, Katie 10/1, Charles 10/1, bar 12/1
Ladbrokes, Coral: Ashley 4/1, Charles 6/1, Vick 6/1, Lee 7/1, Danny 8/1, Faye 8/1, Stacey 10/1, bar 12/1
William Hill: Ashley 4/1, Lee 6/1, Charles 7/1, Danny 7/1, Vick 7/1, Faye 8/1, bar 12/1

Ain't it always the way that the ones with *some* previous dancing experience are the early favourites? Mind you, it's also always the way that the ones with some previous dancing experience don't win...

Finally, how much of a push will there be for a female celeb winner? Last year, four of the last five celebs were ladies, yet Joe McFadden completed a hat-trick of male celeb winners...

(As always, no sexism intended. )