Strictly - The Men!

We covered the ladies yesterday, so now it's on to the male contenders in this years Strictly.....

Olympic gold medal winning boxer Audley Harrison is up first (thats more of a grimace than a smile in the photo, isn't it). From watching Strictly and Dancing With The Stars in the US in the past, its clear that boxers have issues with the dancing because of their build. My guess is that he and partner Natalie Lowe will be out early on.

Next up is this years totty, ex tennis player and current Daybreak Sports reporter Mr Dan Lobb. He has reported for Sky Sports News and Sky News in the past before he movd to the now defunct GMTV. He was one of the few presenters to transfer to the new breakfast show Daybreak. He's been partnered with Katya Virshilas (you'll remember her as the one who was very handsy with Gavin Henson last year).

Next up is McFly drummer (and Lindsay Lohan's ex boyfriend) Harry Judd. He has appeared on the Children In Need Strictly special in the past and people have complained that this will give him an unfair advantage, but the BBC know that he will get the teen vote in their thousands (cha-ching for the Beeb). He's been paired with Aliona Vilani.

The fourth male contestant is ex-Neighbours and current West End star Jason Donovan.  Best remembered for the role of Scott Robinson in Neighbours, he married Charlene Ramsey (played by Kylie Minogue) in an episode that was watched by 20 million people (not bad for a show that went out at 6:30pm). He's been paired up with Kristina Rihanoff.

Ex footballer and current commentator Robby Savage is up next. Robbie has played for his country (Wales) along with 7 league teams over his 16 year career. He's been paired with Ola Jordan for the series.

The penultimate male contestant is comedian and impressionist Rory Bremner. He has starred in shows on tv and radio and has spoofed many a politican (click here to read about the time he pretended to be Gordon Brown and got some juicy info from another MP!). He's been paired up with Erin Boag.

And last, but by no means least, the only astrologer with a royal seal of approval (not really), it's Russell Grant. He started in tv back in 1980 and has featured on numerous shows with his most recent including ITV's Celebrity Fat Camp Fit Club and Channel 4's Celebrity Five Go To... He's been paired with Flavia Cacace

So there you have it - 14 contestants and 14 professional dancers. They now have two weeks remaining until they have to preform their first dance on TV on September 30th!

Strictly 2011 - The Ladies!

Strictly Come Dancing 2011 kicked off in style last Saturday as the celebrities were paired up with their dance partners. So who's got the favourites and who's doing a Widdecombe?

Lets start with Alex Jones - she started off at BBC Choice and welsh station S4C before ending up on the The One Show's sofa with the delectible Matt Baker (who you may remember was a runner up last year). She has been paired up with James Jordan.

She's best known as Angie Watts from Eastenders (even though she left the role in 1988), Anita Dobson is the next for the sparkle treatment. Since leaving the square, she's starred in other shows such as Casualty, Hotel Babylon, The Stretch and Holby City. I have also just discovered that she's married to Queen guitarist Brian May! Anita has been paired up with Robin Windsor for the series.

The youngest contestant from this year's show is 23 year old Miss Chelsee Healey who is better known as Janeece Bryant from the BBC show Waterloo Road. She has been paired up with new dancer Pasha Kovalev (who was a finalist on the 3rd season of So You Think You Can Dance USA).

The fourth female contestant is former Tory MP and novelist Edwina Currie. She served in the House of Commons for 14 years before losing her seat in 1997 and has since become a tv and radio contributor. Oh and she also had an affair with the ex PM John Major. She has been paired up with Vincent Simone.

She's all grown up since we last saw her leaving Ramsey Street, and she's wearing a lot more clothes than she did in the video for her UK #1 single Kiss Kiss - it's Holly Valance. Lets hope that he particiaption won't be as big a disaster as her second album. She's been paired up with the reining champion Artem Chigvinstev.

Next up is 60's songstress Lulu. Still fresh faced (shame she has none of the original parts), she's most recently been on tour with Anastacia and Heather Small (of M-People fame) for the Here Come The Girls show. She has been paired up with Brendan Cole (but she was not happy about that!).

And the final female contestant is Nancy Dell'Olio. She's credited as a property lawyer but is best known for being Sven Forehead Erikssons girlfriend around the time that he was banging Ulrika Jonsson. Could be a loose cannon.... She's been paired up with Anton du Beke