Strictly Come Dancing series five –
live shows start Saturday 6 October 2007 at 6.15pm on Ö÷²¥´óÐã One
Introduction
Ö÷²¥´óÐã One puts the sparkle back into Saturday nights as Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly return to our screens this October to present the fabulous fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing.
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Last year over 12 million people tuned in to the live Saturday night dazzling dance extravaganza to witness sportsmen Mark Ramprakash and Matt Dawson battle it out in the final to be crowned Strictly Come Dancing Champion 2006.
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Former England cricketer Mark and his professional dance partner Karen Hardy were eventually victorious, taking home the coveted trophy.
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2007 looks set to be even more magnificent with 14 new contestants all warming up for their first showdown on the ballroom floor.
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After months of speculation, the Ö÷²¥´óÐã is delighted to announce that taking part in Strictly Come Dancing this year are:
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For the Women:
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- Stephanie Beacham (actress)
- Kelly Brook (model, actress and TV presenter)
- Letitia Dean (actress)
- Alesha Dixon (singer, songwriter and presenter)
- Kate Garraway (TV presenter)
- Penny Lancaster-Stewart (model and photographer)
- Gabby Logan (TV Presenter)
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For the Men:
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- John Barnes (footballing legend)
- Brian Capron (actor)
- Matt Di Angelo (actor)
- Gethin Jones (TV Presenter)
- Dominic Littlewood (TV Presenter)
- Kenny Logan (former Scottish international rugby player)
- Willie Thorne (snooker legend)
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Known for one of her most well remembered roles as Sable Colby in Eighties soaps The Colbys and Dynasty, actress Stephanie Beacham will be dancing with Vincent Simone; TV presenter, model and actress Kelly Brook is partnered with Brendan Cole while former EastEnders actress Letitia Dean dances with Darren Bennett.
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Singer, songwriter and presenter Alesha Dixon, known largely as one third of former girl group Mis-Teeq, is paired with Matthew Cutler; GMTV and Ö÷²¥´óÐã One's The People's Quiz presenter Kate Garraway will be dancing with Anton Du Beke, while model and photographer Penny Lancaster-Stewart is partnered with Ian Waite. Finally, for the women, sports presenter Gabby Logan joins James Jordan.
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For the men, former England, Liverpool and Watford football player John Barnes will be dancing with Nicole Cutler; actor Brian Capron, best known for his role as serial killer Richard Hillman in Coronation Street, is partnered with last year's winning professional Karen Hardy; and EastEnders actor Matt Di Angelo, better known as Deano Wicks in the soap, joins Flavia Cacace.
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Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones dances with Camilla Dallerup; TV presenter Dominic Littlewood, currently seen on Ö÷²¥´óÐã shows such as The One Show and To Buy Or Not To Buy, will be dancing with Lilia Kopylova; and former Scottish international rugby player Kenny Logan, and husband of Gabby Logan, is paired with Ola Jordan in the first Strictly Come Dancing husband and wife battle. Last, but not least, former snooker champion Willie Thorne is partnered with Erin Boag.
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Judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood, Arlene Phillips and Bruno Tonioli also return to cast a professional eye over the competitor's performances.
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Bruce Forsyth said: "It's hard to believe this is the fifth series and the show goes from strength to strength. So many people I meet can't wait for it to return ... I can't help but get excited myself!"
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Tess Daly said: "With such a dynamic cast, this year's Strictly Come Dancing is going to be explosive. We've got the babes, 'The Barnes', 'The Beacham' and even a husband and wife pitted against each other. Roll on October, it's going to be one heck of a show!"
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In the first show the boys will dance to stay in the competition performing either a waltz or a cha-cha-cha whilst the girls remain safe and perform a group number.
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Then it's the girls' turn in week two to dance to be in with a chance to stay as they perform either a quickstep or a rumba. The boys will perform a group number and will all return for week three when it's every couple for themselves.
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From the off, the couples will face the judges and the public vote. In week one a male will go, in week two a female will go and in the third week the lowest scoring pair starts leaving the competition.
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As in previous series all the proceeds from viewer voting will go towards Ö÷²¥´óÐã Children in Need, which has now raised a staggering £4.7million over the four series.
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Those who can't wait for the Saturday night show can get their daily fix on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two when Claudia Winkleman returns with Strictly Come Dancing – It Takes Two, bringing you exclusive interviews, backstage gossip and footage from the training sessions.
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KH/MB1/CS
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