The 14-runner field is finalised so we can now all get down the serious business of comparing sequins, tangos, two-steps and foxtrots!
Yes, Strictly Come Dancing is almost back and, after a few weeks of intensive training for the celebrities and their professional dance partners, viewers will get their first glimpse of the 2018 vintage early next month.
Strictly Come Dancing is the longest running and most enduring of shows of this type. It’s format has been exported to more than 40 countries worldwide and it has dominated the Saturday night autumn schedules for the past 13 years in the UK – it’s unlikely a combination of Simon Cowell and an Ant-less Dec will push it off top spot this year.
Maybe the show did lose a bit when the now-departed Sir Bruce Forsyth hung up his tuxedo but his former co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have done a good job of keeping the magic of the glitter ball alive and the BBC never wastes an opportunity to give one its flagship programmes a plug.
So now we know the celebrities, we await confirmation of their partners and whether the judges panel will be the same as last year. Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revell Horwood, Dame Darcey Bussell and Shirley Ballas were the quartet marking up routines last year and there has been no indication of any change to that line-up.
Is there any ‘form’ to which we can turn before putting our money down?
TV soap Holby City has provided previous winners Tom Chambers and Joe McFadden and Charles Venn (a best 8/1) hails from that show’s big brother (if you’ll pardon the celebrity angle mixed metaphor) Casualty.
The comments sections of social media have been indignant that Pussycat Dolls star Ashley Roberts shouldn’t be allowed to take part given she started off in show business as a dancer and has worked as a choreographer. No surprise that the American is Betfred’s 9/2 favourite.
The ladies dominate the early betting with market support already coming in for DJ and TV presenter Vick Hope and Steps’ Faye Tozer (both a best 8/1). Blue’s Lee Ryan bids to follow in the dance steps of Harry Judd and Jay McGuiness by transforming from band member to ballroom champion and he is also a best 8/1, along side the aforementioned Charles Venn.
Danny-John Jules had some cool dance moves as ‘Cat’ in Red Dwarf and the Death In Paradise actor is 9/1 with Ladbrokes while spin king Graeme Swann bids to become the third cricketer, after Darren Gough and Mark Ramprakesh, to win the much-coveted glitter ball trophy but is rated a best 25/1 chance.
Strictly Come Dancing 2018 Current Best Odds
Ashley Roberts 9/2
Vick Hope 8/1
Faye Tozer 8/1
Lee Ryan 8/1
Charles Venn 8/1
Danny-John Jules 9/1
Joe Sugg 12/1
Lauren Steadman 14/1
Stacey Dooley 16/1
Katie Piper 16/1
Ranj Singh 18/1
Kate Silverton 20/1
Graeme Swann 25/1
Seann Walsh 25/1
Susannah Constantine 33/1
(Odds correct at 3.00pm August 21)
