Strictly Come Dancing 2024

This year Strictly celebrates its 20th anniversary.

This year's contestants -

Chris McCausland, comedian.

JB Gill, singer with the group JLS, TV presenter and author. Former Strictly Christmas special winner in 2012.

Wynne Evans, broadcaster, presenter, and professionally trained opera singer. Probably best known for the "Go Compare" adverts.

Toyah Willcox, singer and actress. A name from the 80s.

Dr Punam Krishan, a media medic and broadcaster. Regularly appears on the BBC Morning Live programme.

Tasha Ghouri, model and TV personality. Former Love Island contestant in 2022.

Pete Wicks, TV personality, author, radio and podcast host. First appeared in The Only Way is Essex back in 2015.

Shayne Ward, an actor and singer. Won the second series of X Factor back in 2005 and also appeared in Coronation Street.

Sarah Hadland, an actress. Best known for playing Stevie in the sitcom Miranda.

Jamie Borthwick, an actor. Has appeared in EastEnders since 2006. Another Strictly Christmas Special winner in 2023.

Tom Dean MBE is a three-time Olympic swimming champion. Most recently, he brought home his third gold medal for Team GB from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (in the team 4 x 200m freestyle relay).

Montell Douglas aka "Fire", a Gladiator and Olympian. The first female UK athlete to compete in both a Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Appeared as "Fire" in the 2023 series of Gladiators.

Nick Knowles, a Bafta-winning TV presenter. Probably best known for the show DIY SOS.

Paul Merson, a former footballer and broadcaster. Played for England, Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Portsmouth. Now a pundit and commentator.

Sam Quek is an Olympic and European Gold medallist, former England and Team GB hockey player and now a TV and Radio Presenter. Was a presenter on Morning Live and a team captain on A Question of Sport.

 

Thanks @AnniD . I recognise Chris, Toyah, Nick and Wynne but none of the other names. Doesn't matter tho as I'm there for the dancing and how the professionals choreograph their 90 seconds of dance.

I like anyone who tries hard and doesn't wuss about how hard it is. You have to be as fit as an athlete to be a ballroom or Latin dancer so theyr'e going to have muscles they didn't know about and sore feet but also lots of fun and an amazing opportunity to learn from the best.

 

Sorry just had to agree.

 

I've copied the comment by Toyah which I'd posted into another topic.

With all the fuss created around Amanda Abbington, I thought the comments from Toyah Willcox made interesting reading. I don't think she's a great fan of Ms Abbington and her attitude to the hard work required.
She said "What's happened in the last year is because the show is 100% committed to dance. You have to go beyond your own personal comfort zone. And that's always been very very obvious. I know for me what's been going on this year, I have been thinking, well can I push myself beyond my own liitations? It's now or never. Simple as that"

 

What is Strictly Come Dancing? People dancing around a person with a whip who keeps them in step?
While I've heard of Toyah Wilcox the rest are random names from the phone directory

 

That's not a bad description of many of the celebs. The reason I mentioned Toyah is that she has said what 99.9% of the viewers think. It's damn hard work but people know that when they sign up. Too many of the celebs seem to think it's just an easy way to raise their profile.

 

I've heard of Toyah Willcox, I seem to remember her talking on a radio programme some years ago.
I thought at the time she had her head up her own Rsole, but maybe that was just the impression I got.

To be honest, I think its a stupid programme because anyone who has been in show business has a distinct advantage.

 

It isn't stupid at all.

Those of us who like dancing enjoy seeing the progress from day one to the end. We don't always agree with the judging or the choices of music or costumes but, on the whole, it's a joyous programme.

The participants who have the advantage are the ones who are prepared to try something new, learn a whole new set of rules of posture and rhythm and have the courage to do it in front of millions of people.

 

All I'm saying is that if someone has been through the entertainment schooling at an early age they will have an advantage over someone who has two left feet and spent their time doing something completely different.

 

It'll be very interesting to see how Chris McCausland gets on. I don't think they've had a completely blind participant before... I guess his sense of humour may be useful!

 

I've never watched it because I can't cope with the 5 minutes dancing, 15 minutes talking about it format. And I'm infuriated by the way the BBC News always has to lever "Strictly" in as much as possible, as if it is actual news ...
But I will be tempted to see how Chris gets on. I like him as a comedian.

 

@pete - lots of Strictly winners had no dance experience - Darren Gough, Mark Ramprakesh, Hamzah Yassin, Bill Bailey, Ore Oduba, Stacey Dooley, Kevin Fletcher, Chris Hollins....... The main thing the competitors need is to be able to count to 8 and work hard to get the steps and the coordination and then the finesse needed to perform well and win public votes.

 

As the years have passed by I've recognised fewer "celebrities", but for younger viewers watching old series on YouTube there are a lot of comments such as "Who is that ? Never heard of them".
In recent years I have learnt just to follow the (cliché alert) "Journey" and get to know the people taking part. Joe Sugg is a case in point.