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Post by ManicKangaroo on May 10, 2014 15:16:33 GMT 1
Claudia Winkleman is to become the permanent host of Strictly Come Dancing, replacing Sir Bruce Forsyth, the BBC has confirmed.
She will team up with regular presenter Tess Daly on the BBC One entertainment show when it returns in the autumn.
Winkleman has stepped in for Sir Bruce on a number of occasions, and already co-hosts the Sunday night results show.
Sir Bruce announced he was leaving Strictly earlier this year, after facing criticism about his age.
He also said at the age of 86 he increasingly found live television "very strenuous".
He had already quit the results show in 2010, which is recorded straight after the live show on a Saturday, meaning a filming schedule that often stretches beyond 11pm.
Daly will step into Sir Bruce's role of introducing the acts and taking the judges' votes, while Winkleman will be chatting to the celebrities and dancers after their performances.
"I have loved Strictly since the second it appeared on our screens and I am honoured and thrilled to now be part of the Saturday night team," said Winkleman.
"Working alongside Tess is always fantastic and I can't wait to spend the weekends with her, our amazing dancers and the greatest judging panel on the planet. Sir Bruce is a living legend and we'll all miss him very much."
BBC entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba said that, although Winkleman's appointment was "not a huge surprise", it marked "a hugely significant step" for the BBC.
"The new Strictly line-up is a clear demonstration of the BBC's determination to feature more women, particularly in its primetime output," he said.
Winkleman has been involved with Strictly Come Dancing since it launched in 2004, presenting the BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two until 2011. She also presents the Great British Sewing Bee and Film 2014, as well as the Arts Show on Radio 2.
Speaking about her new presenting partner, Daly said: "I'm so pleased that I'll be working with Claudia - she's long been part of the Strictly family and I've loved doing the Sunday show with her.
"It's really exciting having two women host the show, and we are great mates so there'll be lots of fun to be had on and off the dance floor."
Sir Bruce will return to the Strictly family for the Children in Need and Christmas specials.
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Post by o on May 10, 2014 15:39:07 GMT 1
Oh DEAR! Better buy a new trowel for the make up she uses and train her to not make it so obvious she's using the autocue!
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Post by Mart!n on May 10, 2014 15:44:02 GMT 1
Oh god... I'm surprised Vernon Kaye was not approached, it would make sense to have a husband and wife presenting a Saturday evening show.
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rewardman
Member
*rock n roll juvenile*
Posts: 31,338
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Post by rewardman on May 10, 2014 15:48:24 GMT 1
A victory for affirmative action then?
Just kidding.
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Jun 1, 2014 18:41:03 GMT 1
Strictly Come Dancing professionals James Jordan and Artem Chigvintsev will not be returning to the BBC show this autumn, the corporation has confirmed. Jordan, a show regular for eight years, rejected the offer of a reduced role, taking part in one-off specials. Chigvintsev chose to stay in the US where he was on Dancing with the Stars. Anya Garnis, who joined the show last year and partnered Casualty's Patrick Robinson, will also not return as a main dancer but will remain part of the choreography team. Jordan turned down the offer of a reduced role, which would not have seen him partnered with a celebrity on the main programme. Despite leaving the show, his wife, Ola, has signed up for another series which will see eight female and seven male professional dancers compete - including two new faces. Joanne Clifton will dance alongside her brother Kevin, who partnered with then BBC presenter Susanna Reid in 2013, to be the first siblings to participate on the show. She will be joined by Tristan MacManus, who spent three years on Dancing with the Stars teaming up with celebrities including Pamela Anderson, Gladys Knight and figure skater Dorothy Hamill. Other returning female dancers include Australian Natalie Lowe, who was forced to pull out of the last series due to injury, Aliona Vilani, Iveta Lukosiute, Janette Manrara, Karen Hauer and Kristina Rihanoff. The male professionals are completed by Aljaz Skorjanec, Anton du Beke, Brendan Cole, Pasha Kovalev and Robin Windsor. Executive producer Louise Rainbow, said: "We're delighted that Joanne and Tristan will be joining our fantastic cast of professional dancers this year and look forward to them becoming part of the Strictly family." "A huge thank you goes out to both Artem and James for being hardworking, dedicated dancers on the show, and we wish them all the very best in their future endeavours."
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 6, 2014 22:17:50 GMT 1
Strictly Come Dancing professional Robin Windsor has pulled out of performing on this year's show due to a back injury. The dancer said he was "devastated" to withdraw from the series. "It's been a really difficult decision, but I plan to focus 100% on my recovery and hope to be back in the ballroom as soon as possible," he said. He will be replaced by Australian Trent Whiddon, who has appeared on both his native and US versions of the show. Windsor missed some of last year's series due to a slipped disc and nerve problems, although it was after he and celebrity partner Deborah Meaden had been eliminated from the show. "I wish the rest of the cast and crew the best of luck with the new series which I'll be watching every week," Windsor added. Whiddon, who began dancing when he was seven years old, won youth and junior titles in Australia before joining the cast of Burn the Floor and spending 12 years with the company. "I am so excited to have been asked to join Strictly," he said. "It's such an honour to be a part of the show and I can't wait to step onto the famous Strictly dancefloor." Strictly's executive producer, Louise Rainbow, said: "We are of course sad to lose Robin from this year's show. He is a valued member of the Strictly family and we wish him the very best with his recovery. "But every cloud has a silver lining and I am delighted to welcome Trent to our team of professional dancers." Whiddon joins two other new professionals on the show - Joanne Clifton, whose brother Kevin partnered Susanna Reid last year, and former Dancing with the Stars US dancer Tristan MacManus.
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 19, 2014 2:01:34 GMT 1
Judy Murray has confirmed she will be taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The tennis coach mother of former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray made the announcement via the official Strictly Twitter account, posing with one of the famous score paddles from the show.
She said: "I'm a huge Strictly fan but a total armchair dancer.
"It's going to be a big challenge for me and for whoever has to dance with me."
She added: "I absolutely can't wait to get started."
Singer Frankie Bridge, from girl band The Saturdays, is the only other celebrity confirmed as taking part.
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 20, 2014 2:33:07 GMT 1
Television presenter Alison Hammond has confirmed she will be a contestant on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The bubbly star of This Morning will join Judy Murray and The Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge to become the third celebrity announced for this year’s series of the BBC1 hit dance show.
Hammond, who found fame as a contestant on Big Brother when she took part in 2002, shared her news with viewers of ITV’s This Morning.
The programme’s regular showbiz reporter said: “I am absolutely overjoyed to be joining the Strictly team. I am ready to immerse myself in glitter and hard work, with a dash of fun along the way.”
She told viewers: “I can’t do heels - I’m really nervous. I just want to use the men’s shoes.”
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Post by o on Aug 20, 2014 9:43:54 GMT 1
So the mother of someone famous is on the show, that's scraping the barrel a little isn't it?
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 20, 2014 21:24:43 GMT 1
Strictly Come Dancing has revealed its first male celebrity contestant. Model and former Scotland rugby player Thom Evans will be leaving the muddy rugby pitch and trying his luck in the Strictly ballroom instead. 29-year-old Evans, who you might recognise from his romantic history with model Kelly Brook, played rugby for Scotland between 2008 and 2010, before a serious neck injury called time on his career.
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 21, 2014 15:51:51 GMT 1
Simon Webbe from Blue confirmed as contestant number 5
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Post by Jordan on Aug 21, 2014 18:47:08 GMT 1
No one to be particularly excited about so far then
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 22, 2014 22:31:40 GMT 1
TOWIE's Mark Wright confirmed as number 6
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 23, 2014 22:42:06 GMT 1
Actress Sunetra Sarker has been confirmed as the seventh celebrity to sign up for Strictly Come Dancing 2014 . Best known for her role as Dr Zoe Hanna in BBC One medical drama Casualty, the 41-year-old has also starred in Doctor Who, Brookside and No Angels.
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 24, 2014 15:28:47 GMT 1
EastEnders actor Jake Wood has become the latest celebrity to sign up for this year's Strictly Come Dancing. The actor, who has played notorious womaniser Max Branning in the BBC soap for eight years, is the eighth contestant to be announced for this year's competition.
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 25, 2014 15:30:57 GMT 1
Wildlife TV presenter Steve Backshall confirmed as the ninth celebrity.
Six more to be announced.
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 26, 2014 12:40:18 GMT 1
Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills is number 10
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Post by o on Aug 26, 2014 12:48:05 GMT 1
Scott Mills, oh my! Our daughter may watch it for Steve Bachshall as she loves deadly 60!
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Post by Jordan on Aug 27, 2014 20:07:57 GMT 1
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Post by ManicKangaroo on Aug 28, 2014 21:21:54 GMT 1
Caroline Flack is contestant 12
The final 3 will be revealed on The One Show tomorrow
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