General Chat

Next is. Kara Tointon

Soap stunner Kara Tointon exploded into the nation's living rooms playing Albert Square's sexy screen siren and 'tart with a heart' Dawn Swann in EastEnders.
Voted 'Sexiest Actress' at the 2008 British Soap Awards, it's little surprise that she stole the heart of not one, but two of her EastEnders co-stars and bagged plenty of tabloid column inches during her high-profile relationships with James Alexandrou and Joe Swash.
Now happily single, Tara's likely to sizzle on the Strictly dance floor. But will the Rumba lead to romance?

When music is on, I just jig to it. Any Beyoncé song will get me going!Kara Tointon
Career
At the age of 7, Kara started to go to speech and drama lessons at school. She did LAMDA exams and entered local music festivals doing poetry recitals.
Kara's first acting experience was playing the part of Brigitta in The Sound of Music at the Cliffs Pavilion in Essex for the local amateur dramatic society.
Her first paid job was in the panto Snow White at the age of 11 - she was one of the child dancers.
Her first TV appearance was in EastEnders in 1994 as an extra, playing Sonia's school friend.
In 2000 after leaving school, she won a part in the Channel 4 drama Teachers. It was this job that convinced Kara that she should make acting her full-time career.
In 2002, Kara appeared in Dinotopia, followed in 2004 by a role in Mile High. She then joined the cast of Dream Team as Gina Moliano, a role she played until 2005.
Almost as soon as she left Dream Team it was announced she would be joining EastEnders as Dawn Swann, the sister of Mickey Miller (Joe Swash).
During her four years on EastEnders, Kara's character conned the residents of Albert Square into paying for breast implants, was kidnapped and held hostage by her lover who planned to give her an enforced caesarean, had a brief affair with Phil Mitchell, and was involved in a long-running 'will-they-won't-they' plotline with Garry Hobbs (played by last year's Strictly contestant Ricky Groves). Kara left EastEnders in 2009, saying she would love to return one day.
In 2008, Kara took part in the Sport Relief version of Strictly, partnering Mark Ramprakash, and won.

Background
Kara was born in Basildon in Essex. Her younger sister Hannah is also an actress and has appeared in Hollyoaks.
She dated James Bourne from the band Busted from the age of 15 until she won her role on EastEnders.
She briefly dated James Alexandrou (Martin Fowler) before going out with Joe Swash (Mickey Miller) in 2008 just before he took part in I'm A Celebrity... They split in May 2010, and Kara is currently single.

Trivia
If she wasn't an actress, Kara says she would have gone to Art College instead. She's 27 years old and is 5' 5" tall.
As well as winning the Sexiest Actress gong at the National Soap Awards in 2008, Kara was also nominated for 'Most Popular Actress' at the National Television Awards in 2007.
She has appeared in adverts for McDonalds and Diamond, and in 2009 she was unveiled as the face of Michelle for George underwear at Asda.
Kara suffers from dyslexia and says she has a reading age of about 12, which causes her problems memorising lines for last-minute auditions. She has made a documentary about the subject for BBC Three, which will be shown in mid-November.

Next is Matt Baker

Matt Baker first broke onto our screens as a young Blue Peter presenter in 1999, where he stayed for 7½ years.
The nature lover then presented a series of animal shows and is now the face of BBC One's Countryfile, regularly pulling in 6 million viewers on Sunday evenings.
But will the Blue Peter hero be able to take on the challenge of Strictly?

I reckon I'll be more of a Latin boy - I like to be cheesy and freak out!Matt Baker
Career
Matt joined Blue Peter midway through his university degree. During his time on the show he trained as a stuntman, slept in jungles and lived with a nomadic family in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
He won two BAFTAs for Best Children's Presenter and an RTS Award. He left the show in the summer of 2006 and presented daytime shows such as BBC One's City Hospital. He also made the final of BBC Sport Relief's showjumping series Only Fools On Horses.
He joined the BBC's sports team as a presenter and commentator for gymnastics events, ranging from the Glasgow Grand Prix Gymnastics and Women's European Gymnastics Championships right through to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
He loves countryside and animals and has presented shows Animal Rescue Squad, One Man And His Dog, Summer Countryfile Diaries, Crufts and Animal Rescue Live.
Matt has hosted four Family Proms in Hyde Park and many live Proms from the Royal Albert Hall. He was also the co-host of the Olympic Handover Concert, officially marking the start of London's tenure as Olympic host city.
In 2009, Matt was one of the celebrities who took part in Around The World in 80 Days for BBC Children in Need, travelling from Kazakhstan to Mongolia with his Countryfile co-host Julia Bradbury.
He has done some acting work, playing himself in an episode of Cutting It and in an episode of Doctor Who in 2005. On stage he played Caractacus Potts in the recent revival of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Background
Matt was born in County Durham, where he grew up in the dales on his family's sheep farm. He has one sister and two step-sisters. As a boy, he was a British Gymnastics champion.
In the late 1990s he worked as a DJ and toured with disco-dancing groups. He played the part of 'Butch Vendor, the LA Bartender' in a comedy disco show, Disco Inferno. He had to juggle wooden clubs that were painted to look like spirits bottles, and do back flips.
He originally wanted to be a physiotherapist but didn't get the right grades, so someone suggested he try drama. Matt attended Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh from 1997-9. He left after two years when he was offered a presenting job on Blue Peter.

Trivia
Matt lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and their two children, Luke and Molly.
Whilst on Blue Peter, Matt broke the world record for the highest altitude-towed hang gliding launch.
To relax, he likes to draw.

Next is Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams is best-known as one third of Destiny's Child, recognised as the world's best-selling R&B girl group of all time.
She has recently forged a stage career as a musical actress on Broadway and in the West End.

I'm a singer, and happy to sing in front of anyone - but dancing is different!Michelle Williams
Career
Michelle first met Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland in 1999, but it wasn't until some months later that Beyoncé asked a friend if they knew of any good singers - she was referred to Michelle.
Destiny's Child had some limited breakout success as a 4-girl line-up, but when two of the other members left the group, Michelle joined in February 2000.
The group then recorded Independent Women Part 1, which featured on the soundtrack to the 2000 film Charlie's Angels. The single topped the US charts for 11 consecutive weeks and the band rocketed to fame.
The band's third album (Michelle's first) was released in 2001 and entitled Survivor. It entered the US charts at No.1 and sold over 10 million copies worldwide, with standout single being the memorable Bootylicious.
Their fourth album, Destiny Fulfilled, was released in November 2004. Following their North American tour of 2005, the band announced that they were to split up. However, a greatest hits collection was then released and the band was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March 2006.
Michelle's solo career outside Destiny's Child has been hugely successful, with two Gospel albums in 2002 and 2004 topping the specialist Gospel music chart.
She followed this with her Broadway debut in 2003, playing the lead role in Tim Rice & Elton John's Aida, where she replaced Toni Braxton. Michelle's also starred in the US TV sitcom Half And Half and the reality show Celebrity Duets.
In July 2009, Michelle began playing the lead role of Roxie Hart in the long-running West End production of Chicago for some months. She then moved on to play the same role in productions of Chicago in Los Angeles and (guess where?) Chicago itself!

Background
Michelle was born in Rockford, Illinois, and raised in a Pentecostal family. She began singing n her local church choir at a very early age, and later sang with her sister in a musical group called United Harmony.
At High School she was part of the Creative & Performing Arts Programme. She pursued a career in criminal justice at Illinois State University, but left midway through her course to pursue a music career as backing singer for R&B singer Monica.

Trivia
Michelle has three tattoos - a butterfly, a music staff wrapped around a treble clef, and a dove.
When she's not working, Michelle loves relaxing at her home in Chicago where she has wild turkey and deer in her garden.
In the past, Michelle has lent her support to children's HIV/AIDS charities in Chicago and has also given money to her church in Illinois to help with the construction of a local school.

Next is Pamela Stephenson

Pamela Stephenson shot to UK fame in 1979 as a comedienne, actress and sex symbol thanks to Not The Nine O'Clock News.
She met and married fellow comedian Billy Connolly and turned her comedy career on its head by pursuing psychology instead.
She's now a well-known and respected Sexologist who believes dance and sex are intrinsically linked. We are sure to see her turning up the heat when performing on Strictly Come Dancing this year!

I have a secret fantasy life about dancing..!Pamela Stephenson
Career
Pamela's early stage career in Australia included many leading roles at the Sydney Theatre Company based at The Opera House including Threepenny Opera, Peer Gynt and Edward Bond's Lear.
In 1976 Pamela arrived in the UK to build a TV career.
She was an overnight sensation in the hit TV series Not The Nine O'Clock News. She was renowned for her impersonations of Angela Rippon, Jan Leeming, Kate Bush and Janet Street-Porter.
She then focused her career in the US and featured in numerous episodes of Saturday Night Live.
Her film career also grew including Superman III, Bloodbath at the House of Death and Mel Brooks' History of the World Part One.
In the early 1990s Pamela took stock of her career as she felt burnt-out doing comedy. She studied psychology at Antioch University before graduating with a PhD in clinical psychology. She is now licensed as a clinical psychologist.
In 2002, Pamela wrote a best selling psychobiography on her husband entitled Billy. This was followed by another book, Bravemouth.
Pamela writes a weekly column for The Guardian entitled Sexual Healing.

Background
Pamela was born in Auckland, New Zealand but grew up in Sydney.
She studied briefly at the University of New South Wales before transferring to Australia's national Institute of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1971.
In 1989 Pamela married Billy Connolly in Fiji. They now have three children together: Daisy, Amy and Scarlett.
She and Billy moved from California to New York recently to be closer to their children who were at college on the East Coast. Pamela intends to start another practice next year.

Trivia
Pamela started practising Buddhism in 1979.
Her sister Leslie is an opera singer in Switzerland.
On Prince Andrew's stag night, Pamela famously hired policewomen's costumes for her, Diana and Sarah Fergusion

Next is Patsy Kensitt

Child star Patsy has been in show business since the tender age of four. She's appeared in Hollywood blockbusters and was notably the face of the '90s Britpop scene alongside her then-husband, rock star Liam Gallagher.
These days Patsy is best-known as a sex symbol of the small screen, and has been wowing viewers of Emmerdale and Holby City.
Her private life has been as well documented as her career, but she sees herself first and foremost as a mother to her sons James and Lennon. She hopes that by appearing on Strictly Come Dancing she will make her boys proud.

My dream is to dance in Blackpool - I love Northern audiences!Patsy Kensit
Career
Patsy's career began when she was just four years old, when she starred in a TV advert for frozen peas. Her first film role was For The Love of Ada, and at the age of 8 she appeared with Elizabeth Taylor in the film The Blue Bird.
In 1986, she played the female lead, 'Crepe Suzette', in the British movie Absolute Beginners.
Patsy also had a short career as the lead singer of the band Eighth Wonder. They had a top 10 hit across almost all of Europe in 1988 with 'I'm Not Scared' (produced by Pet Shop Boys), followed later the same year by 'Cross My Heart'.
By 1989, Patsy decided to concentrate solely on her acting career, and won the role of South African consulate secretary Rika Van Den Haas opposite Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon 2. This was followed by roles in A Chorus of Disapproval, Twenty One, Blame It On The Bellboy, Angels and Insects and in the lead role in the TV movie The Mia Farrow Story.
During her relationship with Liam Gallagher, Patsy battled drug and alcohol addiction, but following her divorce she turned her life around. "I'm not proud of it," she said. "That's not me now. I'd had seven years of bad behaviour - sex, drugs, infidelity, failed marriages, you name it. There were periods in my life when I was doing recreational bad things, but not now. Sometimes I just hang my head in shame."
Patsy featured regularly on Bo' Selecta! and The Bear's Tale on Channel 4. She featured in Ant & Dec's game show Marathon at part of ITV's 50th anniversary celebrations in 2005, and was a guest host on The Friday Night Project.
She left Emmerdale as the long commute between London and Leeds left little time for her to spend with her sons.
Since October 2006, Patsy has played ward sister Faye Morton on BBC One's Holby City. She is due to leave the show this autumn, but will remain on-screen until the end of the year.

Background
Patsy was born in Hounslow, London. Her mother was a publicist, and her father was involved with the notorious '60s gangster families, the Krays and the Richardsons. Reggie Kray was in fact godfather to Patsy's brother. Her dad was known as 'Jimmy the Dip' - a name that stuck after his first arrest for pickpocketing at the age of 19. Patsy was led to believe that he was an antiques dealer!
She was 11 when her father was sent to prison for fraud - he eventually died in 1987.
Patsy was just 26 when her mother died from breast cancer. Patsy later said she went off the rails after her mother's death and never really recovered from the shock.
Patsy has been married four times. In 1988, at the age of 18, she married Dan Donovan, the future frontman of Big Audio Dynamite. In 1992, she married Jim Kerr, lead singer of Simple Minds. They had a son together, James.
In 1997 Patsy married Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, becoming the power-couple of the 'Cool Britannia' phenomenon. They divorced in 2000, with Patsy later stating that she cried every day of their three-year marriage. She and Liam had a son, Lennon, born in 1999.
In 2009, Patsy married her fourth husband, DJ Jeremy Healy. After less than a year the couple separated.

Trivia
Patsy has a Gaelic tattoo on her left foot, and reportedly loves beards!
In 2008, Patsy traced her family tree for BBC One's Who Do You Think You Are?

Next is Peter Shilton



Biography
Goalkeeping legend Peter suffered at Maradona's 'Hand of God' in 1986 but that didn't stop him going on to become the most capped football player in England's history with 125 caps.
His football career has spanned 31 years and he has played in two European Cups and three World Cups. By the end of Peter Shilton's career he had played 1005 games.
I'm a performer really, I love to perform.Peter Shilton
Career
Shilton's league career began with Leicester City, where he spent eight years at the club, amassing 286 appearances and winning the Football League Second Division in 1970-71.
However, it was with Nottingham Forest that Shilton earned his greatest prizes in football. Shilton won the First Division in 1977-78, the League Cup in 1979, the European Cup in two successive seasons in 1978-79 and 1979/80 and the European Super Cup in 1979. The only tournament Shilton never won was the FA Cup, despite coming close in 1969 with Leicester City.
Peter Shilton made 17 consecutive appearances as goalkeeper in all England's matches at the 1982, 1986 and 1990 final tournaments. On 14 occasions he captained his country. It's hard to imagine anyone bettering his record of 88 FA Cup appearances
Peter played for England throughout his career, holding the record for playing 125 games for his country and 125 caps to his name.
In the early years there was a famous rivalry between Shilton and fellow goalkeeper Ray Clemence to be England's number one goalkeeper but the appointment of Bobby Robson as England coach in 1982 ensured Shilton became the number one choice in goal.
In the 1986 World Cup he became the victim of Maradona's cheating "Hand of God". In 1990 he was in goal during the famous penalty shoot out with Germany which led to England crashing out of the competition.
Shilton is now in demand as a motivational speaker. His recent TV appearances have included All Star Mr & Mrs, Cash In The Celebrity Attic, and a World Cup Special edition of 8 out of 10 Cats. He featured in Let's Dance for Sport Relief earlier this year, dancing to Men in Black alongside Jason Cundy.

Background
Peter attended King Richard III Boys school in Leicester when, aged 13, he started training with Leicester City at schoolboy level. He made his debut for the club aged 16 against Everton In May 1966.
He married his wife Sue in 1970 and they have two sons Michael and Sam. Sam's a professional footballer and plays midfield.

Trivia
In 1977 he won PFA 'Player of the Year' voted for by his fellow professionals. In 1990 he was awarded the Order of Merit by the PFA. In 2002 he was made an Inaugural inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame.
In 1987 a computer game was released entitled 'Peter Shilton's Handball Maradona! He was awarded an MBE in 1986 and an OBE in 1991. In 1986 he was featured on This ls Your Life.
He is great friends with ex-Strictly contestant Wlllle Thorne and enjoys relaxing by playing golf.

Next is Scott Maslen

Model-turned-actor Scott Maslen has been setting hearts a-flutter for over eight years in some of British TV's best-loved shows. He's currently the resident heart-throb in EastEnders, where his character Jack has been at the epicentre of some of the most exciting storylines in the soap's 25-year history.
Having come under fire for fluffing his lines in the EastEnders' live episode earlier this year, Scott is particularly nervous about performing live in front of millions of Strictly Come Dancing viewers. But he's embracing the opportunity as much as the risk involved. Just don't mention musical theatre - it leaves him cold!

I've always liked the idea of learning to dance - that's what interests me about Strictly...Scott Maslen
Career
Scott joined the Marines at 16, but had to leave at 18 after damaging his ankle. On holiday in Miami he was spotted by photographer Bruce Weber, and he then embarked on a successful career as a model, travelling all over the world working for designers like Versace and Armani.
After five years' modelling he was advised by actor Bill Paxton to try his hand at acting. He studied for three years at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Eventually he landed a role in the Channel Four TV series Lock, Stock... in 2000. Just two years later Scott was offered the role of DS Hunter in The Bill.
Scott stayed at The Bill for five years, leaving in 2007 to join EastEnders as ex-copper turned club owner Jack Branning. Some of Jack's most memorable storylines have included affairs with sisters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, his brother's wife Tanya, Sam Mitchell and Chelsea Fox. Jack is currently in a wheelchair after being shot by his nephew's spurned girlfriend.
In 2009 Scott won the Sexiest Male award at the British Soap Awards. Earlier this year, he won Best Actor and Sexiest Male at the British Soap Awards.

Background
Scott was born in Woolwich, within the sound of Bow Bells.
He married his girlfriend Estelle in 2008 after nine years together - they met during the solar eclipse in 1999. They have a nine year-old son called Zac together.

Trivia
Scott is a keen fisherman and spends most of his spare time on the river.
He's a vegetarian, and in 2009 he was voted PETA's sexiest vegetarian - alongside Leona Lewis.
Samantha Womack (Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders) is one of his best friends - they've known each other since they were teenagers. They often remark that doing love scenes together is very difficult because they're like brother and sister to each other. Scott is godfather to Samantha's children.
Scott is a fan of West Ham

Finally we have Tina O'Brien

Biography
A talented award winning television actress, Tina spend eight years playing the troubled Sarah-Louise Platt in Coronation Street and is no stranger to controversial storylines.
As a hard working single mother, life's not always easy for this 27-year-old, but being put through her paces live in front of the Strictly Come Dancing judges and the British public is likely to be her toughest role to date.

Latin looks more fiery and from the soul!Tina O'Brien
Career
Tina's first TV role was when she was 14 in children's hospital drama The Ward in 1997.
After parts in The Ward and Clocking Off, 16-year-old Tina joined the cast of Coronation Street playing Sarah-Louise Platt. At the time, her character was a school girl aged 12. She is the third actress to have played the role.
Tina enjoyed some of the biggest storylines during her time in the show including a teenage pregnancy, escaping death at the hands of the murderous Richard Hillman, discovering her fiancée was gay, and her daughter being hospitalised after taking an ecstasy tablet previously hidden in her doll.
Tina won the National TV Award for 'Most Popular Newcomer' in 2000.
She left the show in 2007 when her character moved to Italy.
In 2010 O'Brien started filming a new role for the BBC1 drama Waterloo Road.
Earlier this year she also appeared in the BBC2 drama The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister where she played Miss Brown.

Background
Tina was born in Rusholme, Manchester.
In 2003 Tina started a relationship with actor Ryan Thomas who played her on-screen husband Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street.
She and Ryan moved in together in 2006 and soon announced that the couple were expecting their first child. Her daughter, Scarlett Jacqueline was born in October 2008.
In November 2009 it was announced that the couple had split up. Tina told the press that Ryan had said "she didn't do it for him anymore" and wanted to break up.

Trivia
Tina has twice been voted into the annual FHM Top 100 Sexiest Women in the World. In 2005 she was placed 28th and she was 53rd in 2006.
She is currently dating one of the crew members on Waterloo Road.

So there we go, will have a study and give you my faves in the next few days.

Room for a little-un on the sofa.

Love Strictly. Not too keen on Alesha though. Stick to what you are good at girl, singing a bit.

I have been up all night making my dress. Red. I fancy being a Scarlet Woman. It is a latin number, in the fashion of flames. Flames licking at me booooosum, and my thighs. With very little in the middle. My gold dancing shoes, and a few red feathers in my waxed down barnet, and I am ready. Cant wait.

Not sure about Felicity's comments about not having surgery, her face looks a bit tight to me.

im not keen on strictly n only watch it if there is nothing else on
might be worth watching for scott maslem tho haha x

*Nips in to see if there are any stray feathers to go in our cowboy hat*

*disappears quickly*

Got a few red ones for you.

ooohhh - Thanks

Drop them in to Daff's thread if you don't mind. Much appreciated.

Thanks for all the info. Helen.

Watched Ann Widdecombe interviewed on breakfast news this morning, she's really keen,has been practising 5 hours a day,she said "if John Sergeant did it so can I " lol

Really looking forward to new series. Ooh mtg I loved Alesha...couldn't get enough of her and Matthew dancing together....didn't like her on the panel though.

Mau

* secretly stashes leftover sequins in dance bag to 'deposit somewhere' ;O)

Here I am again - ready to join you all on the sofa. Have just had a good scout round my wardrobe and have decided on a nice colourful bright turquoise number for my samba debut ! Shall have to get used to wearing my dancing shoes again as I have tended to slop around in flip-flop sandal type shoes all summer. Have them on now actually as I type. Not too sure about the celebrities as yet. Am tending towards Tina, Felicity, Gavin and Matt at the moment. Roll on Strictly.

Can somebody pleeeese tell me what time it is on.

6.25 Ann.

Have you got your frock ready?

Still sewing on the sequins Helen, so hot here they keep sticking to me instead of the frock

OK. So here I go for my practice number. As stated I am wearing my flame dress, scarlet, crimson and gold with gold sequins on the edges of the flames. Got to admit girls, I look damned hot. lol

The practice room is playing Tea for Two, so it is a cha-cha that I will be dancing. Who will be my partner, I am nervous. Doors open - I have the wild card. I have Mark Ramprakash. Gosh, I can feel myself getting moist. [perspiration dears, pespiration]. He compliments me on my dress, and I can feel my chest and neck blushing.
God, he looks GORGEOUS. He's in the demob suit, with his hair slicked back, and the two-tone shoes.
So, here we go.

Tea for Two, cha cha cha

Stand tall, kness pushed back, arched back

And Two for Tea

Dainty steps, forward

Me for you

Dainty steps, back

And You For Me

Side step, keeping my frame

Cha cha cha

God, we are good together. You carry on girls, I will finish practice in about, er, fours hours time, I will join you on the sofa.

Cha, cha, cha.