S.14 celebrities

[Occasional Hope]

So they're already announcing several names - does that mean no Olympians this year?

So far:
Ed Balls, washed up politician

Will Young, the original Pop Idol

Laura Whitmore and Ore Oduba, TV presenters (both Who?)

Melvin Oddom, radio presenter (also a Who?)

 

Not terribly inspired so far.

[legaleagle53]

The Olympics aren't even half over yet.  If you are getting an Olympian, it won't be revealed until much closer to the launch show.

[Occasional Hope]

But they must have already decided who will be on it.

[Dots And Stripes]

Ed Balls appears to at least have a sense of humor. It looks like once again the cast will be very heavy on "presenters." 

For me, not knowing most of the stars is one of the joys of Strictly (I live in the U.S.). I don't have to worry about their baggage, I can just love or loath celebs based on what they bring to the show.

[oakgal]

So far, I'm liking the casting. I don't know some of them but they seem like a good group. I was wondering about an Olympian too. Would they get a gymnast again? What about the show jumper? Someone who has made a mark on the Olympics. I took a pass on last season but I'm excited about this one. Will miss Tristan and Iveta. Iveta would have been great with Will Young. 

[legaleagle53]

And you have your 2016 Olympian -- gymnast Claudia Fragapane.

[Occasional Hope]

Well, she didn't do much at the Olympics. 

But we have Greg Rutherford as well.

[Dots And Stripes]

I have heard of 2 celebrities: Anastacia and Will Young.

I watched a lot of Olympics coverage but that gymnast is not one of the 3 British female gymnasts NBC really covered.

[Occasional Hope]

She didn't do particularly well in Rio.  The British public will remember her though from the Commonwealth Games of 2014, where she was one of the stars.

Are any of this year's lot "ringers" with stage school/musical theatre backgrounds?

[Dots And Stripes]

I realize now I also know Daisy Lowe (for being the child of Gavin Rossdale) and Ed Balls (for that tweet). 

[Occasional Hope]

It looks like Danny Mac might be classified as a ringer - he was in the chorus in the West End production of Wicked for four years.

[Occasional Hope]

Greg Rutherford said his first dance was "very fast and very intricate".  The Latin choice for week 1 is usually a cha cha cha, isn't it?

[legaleagle53]

3 hours ago, Occasional Hope said:

Greg Rutherford said his first dance was "very fast and very intricate".  The Latin choice for week 1 is usually a cha cha cha, isn't it?

Not necessarily.  It sounds as though Strictly is taking a page from DWTS this year and mixing things up from the get-go.  I'm betting that he has Salsa rather than Cha-Cha-Cha.

[Dots And Stripes]

On 9/11/2016 at 1:02 PM, legaleagle53 said:

Not necessarily.  It sounds as though Strictly is taking a page from DWTS this year and mixing things up from the get-go.  I'm betting that he has Salsa rather than Cha-Cha-Cha.

They've been doing that for a few years. I remember a few jives and I think tango and a few other styles being mixed in week 1 on Strictly.

[Occasional Hope]

Shameful admission time: I still can't really tell the fast Latins apart anyway, so it doesn't make a lot of difference to me.

[Dots And Stripes]

Can anyone fill me in on the relative fame level of cast members? Is anyone super famous over in the UK? Anyone relatively unknown? 

[Anothermi]

Sorry, they are all unknown to me except Anastacia - who I know because she sang on a Strictly Results show at some point. I didn't know she was American!

ETA: But then, I prefer my celebs to be a blank slate so I can watch them without preconceived opinions.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Anothermi

[legaleagle53]

Will has quit, due to personal reasons.

 

Edited October 11, 2016 by legaleagle53

[Anothermi]

This is quite a loss for me. I was really enjoying his and Karen's partnership. I wish the best for him.

[Occasional Hope]

Leaving "with joy in his heart" apparently.