Strictly 2023

The cricketers would be tied up until the end of the season in September although Mark Ramprakash skipped a couple of games when he did the show and won it. England have the World Cup coming up in October and lots of players are in the franchise leagues but there are retired players who could easily do it.

A lot of the top players retired players commentate, have other media roles or do coaching but there would be some decent names available.

Genuine question here.

Although the routine may only be 90 seconds long, my understanding is that you can choreograph it however you wish however it must include the basic steps of the dance they are performing.

I'm not an expert with regards to the 'rules' of ballroom but it is my understanding that the man may put his around around the woman's waist, the woman puts her hand on the man's shoulder, etc.

Forgive my ignorance but when it's a same sex couple, in terms of the rules and choreography is one still the man and the woman? Or is it a case that it's adapted in such a way that throughout the routine, each will take on both the male and female parts?

I have been watching Strictly (pretty much) ever season since I got here and same sex pairing was bound to happen, and I think it's been introduced quite well, and the show is better for it.

And the routines are so dynamic that I, as the general viewing public, wouldn't know if either are adopting the male or female roles, thus the question.

Life is just so unfair, a lovely person like Amy having to suffer this cruel and vicious disease. I'm sure she is in everyone's thoughts and we all hope she can kick cancer in the balls and live a long and happy life.

Patterns of steps will have a leader role and a follower role.

In general, men will take the leader role and women the follower. You can dance reverse role, but to be honest it isn't really that practical — I've done it socially for fun, and it's often really hard to see over the man's shoulder! It's hardly ever done competitively because (a) it's pretty much impossible to get the same drive and movement so it doesn't look as good and you won't do well and (b) some circuits don't allow it.

In same-sex either partner can take either role. At lower levels where you dance "syllabus steps" you can't swap mid-routine because if you're the leader you have to dance the leader's patterns. At open levels, role-switching mid-dance is possible. It isn't often done in ballroom because you aren't allowed to break hold so it's quite tricky to transition between them! You have to go through a sort of circle arms position. In Latin it's much easier. Tbh in a lot of higher level girl/girl Latin routines I've seen competitively, they mirror or dance side-by-side so much that there isn't really much of a difference between lead and follow anyway.

On Strictly because they can separate you can role switch easily in both ballroom and Latin. I think it'll probably depend on what the celeb likes and found easier — I think John Whaite mainly danced as one role (I'd have to check which!), but I'm sure Nicola Adams did both quite a bit.

Rumours that Les Dennis has been signed up to do Strictly have been going around in the press. Les was a big TV name for 20 odd years and has done a variety of stage and musical roles in more recent years so would be a fun contestant. But he is listed down to do 42nd Street on tour until the end of October.

If he has got dispensation somehow to do Strictly around the tour it would mean him missing Friday nights show and both Saturday performances as well as rehearsing around the musical which would be a big ask for some who is nearly 70.

42nd Street has a week off in late Sept and is Dartford, Woking and Southampton around when Strictly gets going so travel to studio wouldn't be that long. But then it goes Manchester, Newcastle and Belfast which puts extra journey time on getting there and back. His pro would be going around with him so it can be workable but would be hard work for all parties.

I saw Brenda's name in the mix too. Strictly like their Loose Women contestants there seems to be one every year. Some did the show before they joined the panel TBF. I'd personally quite like to see Jane Moore have a crack at it as an attractive older woman but Brenda would be a popular contestant and has good musicality.

Stuart Broad has retired from cricket so whoever suggested him might get their wish too.

Given the celebs have likely already started training, or will be starting any day now, I think Stuart Broad is unlikely, this year at least.

Which one out of the current Eastenders cast or Casualty cast are likely to appear?

The first one is .... Amanda Abbington!

Well that isn't a name that had been rumoured in advance

And that one was heavily leaked