Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Betting
New Series Of Strictly Come Dancing Begins On Friday 18th September
In terms of TV betting generally, and autumnal Saturday night fodder in particular, BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing is up there with ITV1's The X Factor for offering up exciting and far-reaching internet betting opportunities. And this chance to plump for the celebrity - past or present - who they think has the potential to be the next Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers of the celebrity ballroom scene isn't passed up by those with an equally keen eye for an online punt, as the two blockbuster series' go head-to-head to claim audience viewing victories, and Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting comes into its own.
So with the contestants appearing in this year's Strictly Come Dancing slowly but surely getting picked off, it's probably a prudent time to remind ourselves as to the standard of competition itself, and see what the BBC ratings winner has aforded its avid TV followers of Strictly Come Dancing thus far.
Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Betting - Opening Ballroom And Latin Weeks
After all the cat-calling and ugly slanging matches between the Beeb and ITV was put on a temporary ceasefire, the real winners in the hostile broadcaster ratings war was the viewers at home. With countless repeats on a constant tape loop over the weekend, SkyPlus at our fingertips and good old fashioned recording devices at our beck and call, Saturday night disciples of both BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing and arch-rival, ITV1's The X Factor could sit back and revel in everything light entertainment, willy nilly of the shenanigans and verbal crossfire that provided the backdrop to the build-up of one of the most eagerly anticipated evenings of the year. Well, in the eyes of the more commercially astute and demanding out there in sponsorshipLand. And of course those of us who number the Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting community, eager to see how the contestants pan out and help shape our online betting gameplan.
Sparks Fly As Strictly Come Dancing Squares Up To The X Factor In Saturday Night Viewing Spat
With even Simon Cowell adding his considerable weight to the 'debate' prior to the show's first head-to-head of the new season, much was made of the underhand tricks and deliberate posturing of both the BBC and ITV as they both attempted to reel in the biggest TV audiences as the autumn-into-winter schedule traditionally hotted up. Tempers really boiled over however when the Beeb arrived at the decision to overlap their flagship Saturday evening fare with ITV1's The X Factor more convincingly (and possibly, cynically) than in its history, so as to really gage the public support and test the programme-makers patience and resolve.
Anyway, enough of the salvo's, and to the grist of the matter, and the ushering in of this year's Strictly Come Dancing. For the first two weeks ballroom dancing 'n' celeb fans were subjected to a double dose of the sequin-tastic family entertainment show, with the programme going out on both Friday and Saturday night. So as to lure some of The X Factor viewers into the BBC's Strictly web almost by stealth. Friday night was officially declared Ballroom night, whilst Saturday was given over to Latin-based dance performances. The first two weeks afforded viewers the opportunity to see all of this year's competitors - along with their professional dance partners (some familiar faces, some new) - one by one as both celebs and their choreographing mentors took to the floor and showed us what they're made out of.
Strictly Come Dancing Betting 2009 – Final Show Preview
In a series beset more than any other with controversy, judges bickering, injury ravages and repeated allegations of dirty scheduling tactics against arch-rival Saturday night show, X Factor as part of an ill-advised ratings battle that was lost as soon as it (The X Factor that is) had begun, the grand final of this year's Strictly Come Dancing is upon us. What, was that a distant ripple of applause we heard? Probably more to do with gratitude that an end is in sight to this 14-week marathon stint that's let's be honest, has had more of its share of 'downs' than 'ups'.
Anyway, we could spend hours – and needless paragraphs – banging on about how the original 16 celebrity-tinged couples were whittled (see what we've done there?) down to just the two remaining TV personalities and their respective professional dance partners ahead of this weekend's Strictly swansong; but we wont. No. Instead we'll give all you Strictly Come Dancing betting 2009 fans a timely insight into the chances of the two celebs actually winning the current series; well, according to the way in which the web's leading TV betting bookies reckon things will pan out.
Ali Bastian Bid Shock Betting Market Farewell To Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Courtesy Of Viewers Votes
But first, a quick recap as to what's gone before. Well, in the previous week's Semi-Final any road, which ended on something of a sour note for fans of Ali Bastian and her professional dance partner, Brian Fortuna. In spite of coming back from the ankle injury that had blighted her morale – if not her performances – in recent Strictly shows, Bastian was awarded a full set of 10 points across the board from the judging panel, yet viewers voting patterns eventually consigned the ITV1 The Bill star to her fate and was the 14th celebrity to leave Strictly this series.
Which leads us – and for the most part, the Strictly Come Dancing betting 2009 markets – to ponder over the remaining two contestants who'll be battling it out for this weekend's prize. They are – in no particular order of appearance (but a clear preference for us) – shock finalist, Chris Hollins and the smug (but admittedly better mover), Ricky Whittle. The former as we all know by now has put his heart and soul into this year's Strictly, and thoroughly deserves to be in the final for his application if not his (not quite) finished article, whilst the later has managed to wow the judging panel consistently since day one. Although doubts linger over his dwindling popularity with Strictly viewers at home; many of whom have been less than enamoured by his attitude and off-screen problems.
Not Much To Pick In Strictly Come Dancing Betting 2009 Markets Between Whittle And Hollins
But as Len Goodman, Alesha Dixon, Craig Revel-Horwood, Bruno Tonioli and new judge, Darcey Bussell would confirm, Strictly Come Dancing is not alas a popularity contest, it's essentially a talent show that supposedly rewards celebs and their dance partners for their best efforts and advancing skill-set during the course of the series, culminating in this, the final. So here it is then. The self-effacing BBC Breakfast News sports presenter who's danced his way through adversity or the Channel 4 Hollyoaks star who's got more than the necessary moves to carry off this year's title. And so it's over to the Strictly Come Dancing betting 2009 bookies to inform us as to how they see it. And it's interesting to note that there's no outright favourite going into the final show, although Whittle and his dance partner, Natalie Lowe appear to just shade it over Hollins and Ola Jordan under a microscope.
SkyBet, Totesport, Boylesports, Paddy Power and William Hill are suggesting Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe at odds of 4/6 on average, whilst Bet365, SportingBet, Victor Chandler, Blue Square, 888sport, Ladbrokes and Coral are trading at a 6/5 price on Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan emerging victorious on Sunday. One of the big questions of course is the so far unanswered one that asks whether or not any of the X Factor 2009 viewers will switch allegiance now that the ITV1 show's been wrapped up. Will Strictly Come Dancing betting 2009 bookies potentially witness many more punters will come on board now that ITV1's X Factor has run its natural cause on t' other channel? You never know. With everyone previously under the impression that the Strictly Come Dancing betting 2009 final markets would be a straight forward contest between the show's two long-term online bookmakers' favourites, Whittle and Bastian (and therefore be a very short-odds, closely fought battle with neither couples or bookies giving or taking an inch either way), we now have a situation that offers a deal more appeal to the masses of X Factor betting 2009 refugees who might well stray into enemy territory this coming weekend. Just for the hell of it. Either way, the final of this year's Strictly promises to keep us all guessing right to the very end.
Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Betting – Semi-Final Betting Preview
Strictly Come Dancing – the Quarter Finals – was as un-box office as the rest of the series thus far, despite the big billing, as the Saturday evening show continued to get lost in the X Factor's momentous shadows. To drum up televisual support the programme's producers decided to draft in famous ballerina Darcey Bussell, meaning the remaining celebrities and their professional dance partners had yet another member of the judging panel to impress if they were to make it to the Strictly 2009 Semi-Final.
Sadly for actress Laila Rouass this wasn't to be her night, as she fell some way short of the expectations of Bussell and the familiar faces of her more established judging panel. Although in true ballet style she held back with the stinging criticism, leaving it instead to the ever excitable Bruno Tonioli to concur that Rouass' salsa was reminiscent of a deflated balloon. Only that it would have displayed more rhythm apparently, and arguably a bit more personality too. All this conjecture – light-hearted or of the more venomous nature – led to Rouass and her partner, Tony 'the beak' being subjected to the dance off, where they faced bad boy Ricky Whittle. Which of course meant Rouass' cards were marked before she even put a foot wrong, given the 'love-in' that's still centering around the Hollyoaks' actor in spite of his recent much publicised brush with the law.
Whittle And Bastian No Longer Strictly 2009 Betting Market Favourites According To Online Bookies
So the stage is set for this year's Strictly Come Dancing Semi-Final, that sees Whittle and ex-Hollyoaks' starlet, Ali Bastian fight it out for the ballroom-celebratory silverware and associated platitudes. Oh, and BBC news sport presenter, Chris Hollins who'll also do a few turns with the lovely Ola Jordan by means of a side-show. Or will he? Well yes he will, but what we mean is he may have more clout than we realise on learning of the latest Strictly news that's just breaking.
According to our sources, this weekend's Semi-Final will differ from the rules that have gone before – and so possibly extend Hollins' stay for a week longer – I as much as the couple with the lowest combined score will get the Strictly boot immediately, and not the tried and tested dance-off formula that adds a bit of spice to proceedings at the end. In the event of a tie on points, then the public vote will play the deciding factor, which ultimately might favour Chris Hollins rather than Whittle. Cast as the villain of the peace latterly, the viewers at home have warmed far quicker and easier to the sincere charms of Hollins as opposed to the posturing of Whittle, regardless of the later seemingly being the judges' pet from the outset of the current series.
Chris Hollins Leap-Frogs Whittle And Bastian In Strictly Come Dancing Betting 2009 Internet Betting Markets
The online Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting bookies have changed their tune accordingly too if the markets are to be believed, as most of the leading Strictly bookmakers have sensed the public's fall-out with Whittle and installed Hollins and Jordan as the new Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting favourites going into the Semi-Final. They'll also taken into account increasing rumours that Bastian still isn't anywhere near recovered properly to take on the remaining pressured dance routines left before the show comes to its end, with speculation rife that Rouass has been told to continue training as she could yet be called upon as a reserve should The Bill actress not overcome her ankle injury.
Serious doubts were cast by show insiders who were worried that directly after last weekend's performances Bastian was spotted with her foot in an ice bucket for an hour as the pain became too much to bear; and with no time to rest in-between the remaining programmes as training sessions intensify in the build-up to the Strictly final, that she might have to withdraw. Reflecting these latest developments the Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting markets have reacted to the gossip by declaring that Bastian and her partner – Brian Fortuna – are second favourites to take the title.
Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Betting – Week Eleven Preview
With one of this year's Strictly Come Dancing's favourites - Jade Johnson – ruled out for the remainder of the competition on the grounds of being (barely) walking wounded and the other two front-runners experiencing their own very different difficulties in the build-up to this week's show (Ali Bastian's crocked last we heard and was last seen hobbling about rather gingerly with the aid of crutches which – call us old fashioned – isn't the desired look for potential Strictly winners), the curse of Strictly 2009 is definitely upon the show. And us, the long-suffering Strictly Come Dancing betting fans who have just been informed that all bets are off at this moment in time.
Ricky Whittle Arrest Casts Shadow Over Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Betting Markets
As we gear up for Week Eleven of the ballroom dancing competition, news reaches us that signals that the embattled show's about to lurch from one crisis to yet another. Apparently favourite with the Strictly Come Dancing 2009 market-providing internet bookies – Ricky Whittle – has been arrested and bailed over a late night incident in Liverpool during the week leading up to the eleventh instalment of the present series. Allegedly the Hollyoaks star was held for questioning before being released on bail after an altercation with a photographer whilst driving his car away from a party in the city centre. More controversy – yes, yet perversely this might be a good thing for the show's declining ratings as it continues to loose out to the X Factor week in, week out.
So looking ahead to this week's show, well, we cant. Not from a Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting perspective anyhow as it's a complete none show on the betting front according to the internet's TV betting bookies who've declared it so in the event of Whittle's arrest. That said, whilst some bookies appear to have suspended their Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting trading prices, other including Bet365, Paddy Power and Ladbrokes appear to be saying business as usual. Coral however had already taken betting on the showdown after Bastian's injury, and other firms followed suit following Whittle's arrest. "It's been a nightmare to bet on this year," said Gary Burton, spokesman for Coral, which had Whittle as 4-7 favourite before the shut-down. Whatever happens, it'll be interesting to see just how well the overly confident Whittle will perform his swaggering moves whilst being ankle tagged.
This Year's Strictly Hit By One Set-Back After Another
With allegations of racism, the unsightly and unnecessary fall-out from the axing of Arlene Phillips and the subsequent 'replacing' of her with former Strictly winner, Alesha Dixon, a catalogue of injuries and mishaps, calls of unfair scheduling battles with arch weekend prime-time TV ratings rival, X Factor and now the arrest of one of the show's favourites to waltz off with this year's Strictly gong, the celebs-in-sequins show is rapidly descending into something of a farce. And that's not to mention pint-sized veteran comedian – Ronnie Corbett – stepping in for Brucie as he pulled a sickie the other weekend, adding another unrehearsed, almost pantomime element to the usually slick and polished Strictly production.
Just for the record though, and for those of you who are enjoying the current series in spite of all its set-backs, here's the unique rub ahead of this weekend's programme. As well as performing their individual dances, the five remaining celebs and their partners are expected to jointly act out a collective Viennese Waltz which will also have the rule run over it by the judging panel. The panel will then allocate each couple a single group (judging panel-comprised) score out of a possible ten points, which will ultimately be added to their individual dance routines and converted into points in the usual manner.
Strictly Week Ten Ended In Ricky Groves' Last Dance
Pray silence at the back, and a drum roll if you please. And the latest celebrity and their dance partner to get voted off Strictly Come Dancing is......Ricky Groves. Cue groans in the audience as opposed to gasps, as the Week Ten result surprised literally nobody as ex-Eastender and his professional dance mentor – Erin Boag – bid farewell to the BBC stage.
And just how did it arrive at this result? Well after a combination of judges' scores and TV viewers' votes rendered Laila Rouss and Anton Du Beke facing Ricky and Erin in the bottom two and the spectre of the dreaded dance off for Strictly survival, the odds on Groves turning the situation around were long to say the very least. That said he put on the performance of his Strictly career in a last ditch attempt to capture the votes of the formidable judging panel, but wasn't' enough to save his and Erin's bacon as Revel-Horwood, Dixon and Tonioli sealed the pair's fate, leaving head judge Len Goodman to admit – albeit academically – that he too would have chosen Rouss and Du Beke over t'other two.
Week Nine of Strictly saw Phil Tufnell and his partner Katya Virshilas dance their last dance.
Ali Bastian And Ricky Whittle Remain Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Betting Bookies' Favourites
With these two soap veterans fighting it out tooth and nail – or rather fitting Lycra and sequins – for the top spot in the Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting stakes, you might easily have forgotten some of the other celebs are still not out of the running for this year's title. Indeed, Jade Johnson was until recently touted as a potential finalist, thanks to some exemplary (although under the radar) performances on the floor, whilst Chris Hollins is still attracting money and interest each weekend (if only due to his sexy professional dance partner, Ola Jordan).
Glancing down the remainder of the hopefuls – and with respect, those without a hope in haydees – and the name Natalie Cassidy stands out most; like a beacon of despair. Week by week she's improving to the point where she runs the serious risk of being mistaken for a half decent dancer (how many weeks in the current Strictly run again?), and on week eight's show the ex-Eastender was awarded her highest score of the series so far, her 31 points for her interpretation of the quickstep. Whilst she can't win Strictly, she does at least throw everything she's got into it; and that's quite something.
Cutting to the Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting chase, and the current online bookies' rub reads something like this. Ricky Whittle and Natalie Lowe are odds on favourites to take the Strictly mantelpiece-filler, with Ladbrokes trading at 4/5. They're closely followed by Ali Bastain and Brian Fortuna (21/10 with Bet365) who in turn are not so closely followed by Chris Hollins and partner Ola Jordan; next in line they're classed as a 7/1 shot for Strictly 2009 honours with Paddy Power. Laila Rouass and the controversial Anton Du Beke find themselves priced at 20/1 with Bet365, while Natalie Cassidy and Vincent Simone have leap-frogged them and are now officially 14/1 chances with Ladbrokes.
As you should know by now, there are a host of Strictly Come Dancing 2009 betting markets on which to place your carefully and shrewdly chosen wager away from the bright lights of 'Outright Winner', including 'Total Points Scoring', 'Lowest Score', 'Next Elimination', Top Man', 'Top Woman', 'Gender of Next Evictee', 'Gender of Winner' and 'Naming The Top Three' for starters.
From the very first week of Strictly Come Dancing 2009 competition the lines were drawn in the sand, well, polished BBC TV Centre's makeshift ballroom floor, as the new contestants went through their first motions. Which if we recall went something like the following. As far as Free Betting Online were concerned anyway.
TV's Oxo Mum, Lynda Bellingham Favourite Amongst Online Bookies For Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Betting Wooden Spoon
Lynda Bellingham and Darren Bennett - (VOTED OUT OF COMPETITION) Let's get one thing perfectly straight, the former Oxo mum isn't going to win Strictly. She can either take it with good humour when the judges let rip, or get in a diva strop and flounce off/break down in floods. She chose the former on her first appearance, although you couldn't quite tell from her face/body language as she danced her awkward way through the tango. Looking somewhere between constipated and homicidal, Bellingham was described as "fierce" by new judge Alesha Dixon, whilst Craig Revel-Horwood - ever the diplomatic charmer - declared her performance as being, "Full of vacuous looks". Either way she posted an accumulative 44 points for both her tango and Latin.
Rav Wilding and Aliona Vilani - (VOTED OUT OF COMPETITION) Might have set a few mature ladies's hearts a'flutter in his tight sequinned trousers, yet he failed to sufficiently impress the judging panel with his rigid rumba. That said it was a vast improvement over his opening tango routine as nerves seemed to get the better of the former plod-turned-BBC Crimwatch-presenter. In the event he survived the first public vote by the skin of his whitened teeth by head judge, Len Goodman who instead opted to send Martina Hingis packing.
Jade Johnson and Ian Waite - (RETIRED FROM COMPETITION THROUGH INJURY) Leapt their way into Bruno Tonioli's affections with her lung-busting interpretation of the cha-cha-cha; which was warmly received by his fellow judges. So enamoured was the spontaneously combustible Italian he was moved to announce that, "Those legs could crack walnuts" of the long jump silver medallist at the 2002 European Championships and Commonwealth Games. Carrying off 27 points for her debut performance, she garnered a further 25 points for her follow-up waltz to figure high on the first show's leader-board.
Chris Hollins Surprises Strictly Judges, Whilst Martina Hingis Dances Her First And Last Dance
Chris Hollins and Ola Jordan - Drew gasps from both audience and judging panel in equal measure with his absorbing, story-telling version of the rumba, leading notorious villain of the peace, Revel-Horwood to announced, "That was actually rather brilliant". Form your own sentence out of the following; Amaze, cease, wonders, to and never. The BBC sports news presenter ripped up the dance floor, wowing TV viewers, studio audience and judging panel alike, strongly hinting that he could be this year's dark horse. Providing he controls his finger movements.
Martina Hingis and Matthew Cutler (VOTED OUT OF COMPETITION) - Were the first shock departees of the new, seventh series of Strictly, which was hardly fair given that she'd barely put a foot wrong as she glided through both the ballroom and Latin elements, amassing 46 points overall and fifth place on the leader-board. The critics pretty much universally agreed that she needed to 'act' the part more and dance more as a unit in tandem with her professional partner. Controversial new judge, Alesha Dixon summed up the tennis star's waltz as being, "Really lovely. You are in very safe hands, come back tomorrow a little more confident"; unfortunately not very prophetic as she made a slight return 24 hours later before being dismissed period after being dumped in the dance-off by the TV audience and losing out to Rav Wilding.
Joe Calzaghe Stiffens Up, As Ali Bastian Waltzes Into Bookies' Favourites Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Betting Position
Joe Calzaghe and Kristina Rihanoff - (VOTED OUT OF COMPETITION) Found themselves well and truly on the receiving end of Revel-Horwood's vicious tongue as the more spiteful of the judging panel pulled no punches with his short, sharp appraisal of the former boxer's Cha Cha Cha; likening it to, "Rigor. Mortis." For all their supposed off-screen chemistry, Calzaghe and Strictly mentor, Kristina Rihanoff did little to recreate the alleged spark on it, turning one of the most eagerly anticipated routines into something of a damp squid. On the plus side for her, at least she doesn't have to stare into John Sergeant's beauty-challenging face each week this time.
Ricky Groves and Erin Boag - (VOTED OUT OF THE COMPETITION) Bored anyone who cared to listen in training that he needed to inject a little more 'panazz' into his display. Which manifested itself in what appeared to be a series of facial gurns as he got into the swing of his dance routines and accumulated a total of 47 points for his two opening performances. The ex-Eastender kept his posture well throughout both numbers, although Alesha thought that the actor who played hapless Gary Hobbs in the BBC soap opera needed to relax his shoulders, while Craig didn't think he looked overly convincing during the routines.
Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna - Sighed and simpered her way into our mum's and gran's affections with a sugary-sweet Disney-like fairytale-princess-floating-across-the-dance floor sequence that could surely offend no-one. Looking elegant and moving with grace and good timing, the ITV1 'Bill' actress formed a touching relationship with dance partner Brian Fortuna as she topped the first week's Strictly leader-board with 60 points garnered, and effortlessly winning over the normally hard-fought approval of the exacting judging panel. Revel-Horwood was even quoted as declaring the ex-Hollyoaks star as, "Fab-ul-ous", while Bruno simply can't wait to see her again, like a desperate boyfriend after a so-so first date.
Ricky Whittle Early Favourite To Clinch Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Title
Hardly drawing gasps of untold excitement from those of us in TV land, our first impression is that ITV1's production team will hardly be quaking in their pop sock-filled, blue suede shoes, beset by fear of a ballroom blitz from its annual rival in the traditional televisual light entertainment run-up to Christmas. And that's simply because names like Jade Johnson, Ricky Groves and Laila Rouass will leave most with a look of bewilderment etched across their faces. The usual smattering of Z-listing ex-soap personnel make up numbers in a pack that at least harvests a few household names of note. But this year it seems no expense has been spent by the BBC in a bid to attract the cream of popular culture figures to its flagship Saturday night show, clearly more affected by the economic downturn than we all realized.
With the Beeb desperate to deflect the bad publicity that arose in the aftermath of Arlene Phillips' axing from the judging panel due to ageism and/or sexism - or a subtle blend of both - you'd think executives would attempt to lure some prime time TV heavyweights to don the sequined evening wear and shimmy themselves into our affections as the summer evenings give way to the long winter nights. But no. Instead we're fobbed off with former Wimbledon tennis ladies champion (and recovering drug abuser) Martina Hingis, who's very much at a loose end after been banned from the professional tennis circuit for two years in 2007 for testing positive for cocaine at the All England club. Joining her as Strictly Come Dancing 2009's major draw is a fellow sports star at the pinnacle of his powers, yet who's managed to keep his nose clean throughout his successful career to date; former light heavyweight boxing champ, Joe Calzaghe.
TV Betting Fans Keen To Watch Progress Of Celebrity Stars As Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Betting Unfolds
Elsewhere, and the only other celebrities that we've heard of charged with pulling in the punters are ex-cricketer-turned-panel-show-regular, Phil 'Tuffers' Tufnell (himself disgraced for showing a fondness for illegal substances during his colourful test cricket career) and one time Oxo cube TV advert mum, Lynda Bellingham, who will be hoping her 61-year old body will see her through to the later stages of the ballroom dancing competition. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Jade Johnson is one of the Team GB Olympic long-jumping prospects who'll spearhead our bid for 2012 Gold medals in the games, who will share the stage with retired jockey, Richard Dunwoody. Although not at the same time we hope, otherwise we might have to adjust our TV sets given the height difference.
With the 'big names' dispensed with, and by scanning the small print at the bottom of the bill we observe BBC Breakfast presenter, Chris Hollins, Rolling Stones' Ronnie Woods' estranged wife, Jo Wood, Natalie 'was Sonia from Eastenders' Cassidy, Ricky 'still is Gary from Eastenders' Groves and Footballers' Wives makeweights, Zoe Lucker and Laila Rouass. The later at least being an excuse for the dads to feign interest in the show over whilst the former could well add the comedy value akin to 2008's John Sergeant. You could also add the name Ali Bastian - from ITV1's the Bill - to the phwoar factor, whilst an arresting sight for female members of the Strictly audience comes in the shape of police officer-turned-BBC Crimewatch host, Rav Wilding.
In fact, one final look at the line-up exposes fictional Underworld knicker boss from ITV1's Coronation Street, Craig Kelly who plays the role of Luke Strong in the soap and Hollyoaks' pin-up, Ricky Whittle; both providing eye candy for the female contingent and doubtless three contestants who'd have caught Arlene Phillips' eye had she still been around for this seventh series.