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The only negative things I've read came from an article in a scandal sheet from his ex-wife when he joined SCD. Until then they were working in the cast of Burn the Floor together and were friendly - on facebook anyway ;-). She flung some mud around and said later (on fb) 'sorry babe, it was just business!'. He and CAI were together for a couple of years. She wanted to settle down and have kids and he didn't, but she only ever said nice things about him. The relationship with Kara lasted three years and there doesn't seem to be any negativity there either. As reputations go, his seems a bit tame...

Jennifer and Tristan speaking about Strictly on Irish radio. Jive first dance on the Saturday!!

Are you able to view the videos on the BBC site or on the facebook page? https://www.facebook.com/bbcstrictly The training videos are supposed to be from their first day. Seems to be one released each day by the BBC. I think the contenders at this stage look like Frankie, Pixie, Caroline, Simon and Thom, with Sunetra and Jake as maybes. Might surprise us? Alison, Mark, Gregg Unlikely, but you never know: Judy, Tim, Scott, Jennifer, Steve

Not wishing to add insult to injury, here, but Tristan's partner hasn't even been in the country this past week. She lives (some of the time?) in Florida and she and her husband have been over there, so she will only start training today. No disrespect to her intended, but, from the launch show, she clearly needs as much rehearsal time as possible. The first show is a week Friday, with the second on Saturday. I imagine they have camera blocking and dress rehearsal etc in the middle of next week, so she has about 10 days.....

Oops. Not sure how I did that! Try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVJpAS7nOPI

http://Strictly Come Dancing - Series 12 Episode 1 The Launch Show I don't know how long this will stay on utube...

I find the variations in our language fascinating. If you're interested, there's a great blog about it written by an American linguist living in the UK - and I think she has a post about fillet ;-). http://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.co.uk/

Hi - I'm British and, although I believe both the French and English words are used in British English, I've always spelled it and pronounced it as an English word (genoese: 'from Genoa'), rather than as a loan word from another language, so for me, it's jenn-oh-eeze :-)

I loved the launch show. Glitter and cheese were abundant, Oakgirl ;-). So, so disappointed to see Tristan paired with Jennifer, although I have no doubt they'll be a lot of fun. So many of the pairings were unpredictable it made the boring predictability of Jenn/Tris, Judy/Anton and Alison/Aljaz - being that only he is tall enough - so very perplexing. Gutted for Judy, because she would have so enjoyed a fit, younger partner, but hopeful she will make Anton work hard for once. She did look the least confident of all of them, sadly. A little bit of me wonders if giving Tristan the Irish lady was a kindness, so he could be 'home' during training, but I think it more likely they couldn't pass up the opportunity for all that 'Oirish' josh-orama they have up their sleeves. I'm cringing already at the prospect of the 'funny' VTs and an overdose of the we-didn't-understand-a-word-but-aren't-they-hilarious quippery. Yikes! Scott will be a terrible dancer but very lovable, I think. Shocked that stand-in newbie Trent got arch-ringer Pixie, although, I have to say, from the little we saw of her, she may not be as good as I was expecting and she came across a touch....vapid. I loved Iveta's dumbfoundedness at getting Thom. A 'Yay!' from me for those two. Pasha - yet again - gets a young lovely. I'd have liked to see him with a different type, for once. No showmance rumors for them, though, as it seems our Pash and Rachel (his partner from last year) are in lurve. Crumbs!

Press photos and a little blurb about each of the celebs. Caroline is wearing shorts ;-). Jennifer's age continues to be a movable feast, with one of the papers saying she's 50 so I'm going with that for now.

Tristan In London - A New Interview

Matthew, Lilia and Darren were definitely given the heave-ho. Karen, I can't remember. I believe Camilla wanted to go but have a feeling she probably wouldn't have been kept much longer. I'm as certain (as I can be) that it was Flavia's choice. Nobody has won twice ;-)

All the pros together... https://www.facebook.com/D8Iveta/photos/a.620792814658301.1073741837.151280518276202/707478622656386/?type=1&relevant_count=1 Iveta and Tristan https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=707713015966280

These are the women in order of age: Pixie Lott, 23, Singer (5'7 or 5'8) Frankie Sandford/Bridge, 25, The Saturdays Singer (5'3 or 5'5) Caroline Flack, 34, TV Presenter (5'4) Alison Hammond, 39, This Morning Presenter (5'10) Sunetra Sarker, 41, Casualty Actress (5'0 or 5'1) Judy Murray, 55, Tennis Coach & Fed Cup Captain (5'6 -ish) Jennifer Gibney, 58 (or 49??), Mrs Brown's Boys Actress (height?) I think there's a good chance Tristan will get Pixie (Or perhaps I just hope...) Saw Frankie singing with her band on a TV show the other day and they were doing the girl-band 'wiggle, strut, pout and point' thing that passes for dancing. I have to say, she wasn't that great at it!! Caroline can dance and is fun and would probably get on with Tristan. Or drive him mad.... Of the older women, Alison is very overweight, although I think she can move a bit, Sunetra seems perky, Judy will likely be cursed with a tennis player's aptitude for dancing (ie none) but she's fit, slim, hardworking.... Jennifer???

I've seen Jennifer's husband on various chat shows, but don't watch Mrs Brown's Boys so her name meant nothing to me. I've seen her age reported anywhere from late forties to late fifties! Can't find any info on her height. I really hope they don't give Jennifer to Tristan. It's time he got to partner a young fittie. I wouldn't be surprised if Jennifer went to Anton.

Three - see above. 15 in total.

The final three celebrities were announced this evening. Did they save the best till last???? Er. No. Tim Wonnacott - TV antiques expert. Jennifer Gibney - comedy actress (unknown to me) Gregg Wallace - judge on Masterchef. A 'love or loathe' type. ETA : Apparently these come from a newspaper not the BBC - who will be confirming tomorrow - but I think it's reliable

No surprises today but confirmation of Caroline Flack. Caroline should be fun. She used to work on X Factor which airs against Strictly for most of the season, and her casting, alongside Pixie, Frankie, Mark and even Scott could be seen as a statement of intent regarding Cowell and co....

A Strictly Wednesday welcome to .... pop singer Pixie Lott Pixie being an Italia Conti graduate (the same performing arts school attended by Mark, Derek and Julianne), plus a few mutterings of specific ballroom and latin training, will mark her out as candidate for principle ringer...

Just Mark Wright so far. The BBC have done well keeping so many under wraps. I think the cast so far looks promising. No really big stars, but most have solid 'credentials' with the exception of the reality guy - in my opinion of course - but I'll concede he's popular with a certain crowd and will look nice. I guess Judy Murray is a bit marginal in the celebrity stakes, but people in the UK who follow tennis will know her as a commentator, pundit, coach, captain of the British Fed Cup team and promoter of the women's game. To everyone else, she's just Andy's Mum.

The first series began in May, 2004 (8 couples/8 weeks). Series 2 started in October the same year. Since then we've had a once yearly series starting September/October and finishing close to Christmas.

Today's reveal....Scott Mills, radio DJ

Celebrity of the day is Steve Backshall. Snake wrangler, wildlife presenter, adventurer and daredevil. Apparently.

BBC are confirming one a day.... today's offering is Jake Wood - EastEnders actor. I'd say Caroline was in as per newspapers (but not yet the BBC). Rumors not mentioned above: Pixie Lott (singer and ringer), Alan Hansen (ex-soccer player and pundit), Paul Hollywood (tv baker and silver fox) and Michelle Collins (soap actress)

Another celeb announced: Sunetra Sarker, television actress.