Strictly Come Dancing 2009 Line Up
The line up for Strictly Come Dancing 2009 has been revealed ahead of the new series that starts on BBC1 next month.
Here’s a full rundown of all 16 celebs taking part including pictures with their dance partners, a mini bio and betting odds incase you fancy a flutter.
The ladies…
Ali Bastian, 26
Windsor-born beauty Ali became an instant pin-up when she joined the cast of Hollyoaks in 2001 playing the ditzy, but lovable Becca Dean. During her six years on the show, her character fell pregnant with her dead boyfriend’s baby, cheated on her husband with her former student and was killed in prison after being wrongly convicted of sleeping with boyfriend Justin Burton when he was underage. Two years ago, she moved to The Bill as PC Sally Armstrong. She is currently dating London Irish Nick Kennedy. Paired with Brian Fortuna.
Odds 7/1
Martina Hingis, 29
Former Wimbledon champion has won five grand slam titles, but her tennis career has been under threat in recent years. In 2008, she was banned from the sport after testing positive for cocaine use two years ago. After the tests, Hingis declared she was ‘100 per cent innocent’, but the ITF ruled against her and ordered her to repay nearly £80,000 in prize money. Paired with 2007 winner Matthew Cutler.
Odds 5/1
Laila Rouass, 34
Stunning Laila Rouass owes her exotic looks to her Moroccan and Indian parents. She joined the cast of Footballer’s Wives in 2004, playing Bollywood actress-turned-WAG Amber Gates, who was involved in many a catfight with love rival Tanya (Lucker). More recently, Laila has starred in ITV supernatural series Primeval. Paired with Anton Du Beke.
Odds 10/1
Natalie Cassidy, 26
Former child star who grew up on screen in EastEnders. The actress left Walford in 2007 after 14 years playing Sonia Fowler, nee Jackson. In recent years, she has attracted attention for her dramatic weight loss after filming a workout DVD and subsequent weight gain. By appearing on the show, she is surely set to shift the pounds yet again. Paired with 2008 runner-up Vincent Simone.
Odds 12/1
Zoe Lucker, 35
Yorkshire-born Zoe rose to fame in the hilariously camp ITV series Footballer’s Wives, playing the scheming Tanya Turner. Since the show’s demise in 2006, Zoe has split her time between acting and presenting. The blonde gave birth to her first child Lilly last September. Paired with James Jordan.
Odds 16/1
Lynda Bellingham, 61
The oldest contestant on the show this year has been a regular face on British TV screens since Eighties. She is famously known as the Oxo mum in the adverts. She went on to star in All Creatures Great And Small, The Bill and At Home With The Braithwaites. In recent years, she has been one of presenters of lunchtime show Loose Women, but took time out to disrobe for the West End production of Calendar Girls. Paired with 2004 winner Darren Bennett.
Odds 50/1
Jo Wood, 53
Known for being the long-suffering wife of Rolling Stones rocker Ronnie Wood, former model Jo is becoming a celebrity in her own right following their high-profile split last year. As well as bringing up three children, Jo has become a successful businesswoman and owns an organic skincare company. Paired with 2004 winner Brendan Cole.
Odds 14/1
Jade Johnson, 29
Liverpudlian athlete Jade is a two times Commonwealth Games and European Championship silver medal winner. She is hoping for more success on the dancefloor as she disappointingly came seventh in the Long Jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Her dance training will no doubt come in handy to keep her fitness levels up ahead of the 2012 London Olympics. Paired with Ian Waite.
Odds 7/1
The guys…
Phil Tufnell, 43
The former bad boy of cricket will no doubt be wise-cracking with the judges when he takes to the floor. The former England and Middlesex player, who was known more for his bowling than his batting, took over 1,000 first class wickets during his impressive career. No stranger to reality shows, Phil was crowned king of the jungle of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2003 and also appeared on Celebrity Masterchef. Paired with Katya Virshilas.
Odds 12/1
Joe Calzaghe, 37
‘The Pride of Wales’ already has a CBE and OBE to his name and will a Strictly trophy be next? The London-born, Welsh-raised boxing champion is the longest-reigning boxing champion of the modern era and holds the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF super-middleweight belts during his remarkable 16-year career. The father-of-two lives in Wales with his model girlfriend Jo-Emma Lavin. Paired with Kristina Rihanoff.
Odds 16/1
Ricky Groves, 41
East Londoner Ricky is leaving EastEnders on Thursday after nine years playing hapless mechanic Garry Hobbs. As well as establishing his acting career, he also found love on the show after meeting his now-wife Hannah Waterman. The West Ham supporter said he was inspired to dance after seeing his former co-star Jill Halfpenny win the show five years ago. Paired with Erin Boag.
Odds 33/1
Craig Kelly, 38
Lancashire-born Craig is one of Coronation Street’s newest residents, but is set to leave in October after only eight months on the soap. Prior to playing factory boss Luke Strong, Craig was well-known for playing Vince Tyler in cult gay drama Queer As Folk. A prolific voiceover artist, Craig’s familiar tones can be heard on Channel 4 reality show Shipwrecked, as well as The Real Hustle. Paired with Flavia Cacace.
Odds 12/1
Rav Wilding, 30
Rav brought a whole new type of viewer to Crimewatch thanks to his pin-up looks when he joined five years ago. The Canterbury-native owes his handsome looks to his mixed Mauritian and English parentage. After leaving the Army in 1999 after a broken leg hampered his fitness levels, Rav started working in the security team at Harrod’s department store before starting training with the Metropolitan Police. After qualifying as a police officer, Rav was part of the team responsible for investigating the tragic murder of schoolboy Damilola Taylor in Peckham, south London in 2000. Paired with Aliona Vilani.
Odds 6/1
Ricky Whittle, 27
Hollyoaks heart-throb Ricky started his small screen career on Sky football soap Dream Team before moving up north to Chester. He broke his leg during his time on the Dream Team, so Ricky will be hoping the old injury doesn’t come back to haunt him on the dancefloor. Orignally starting on Hollyoaks as good guy Calvin Valentine, his character was drawn to the dark side in recent months and has been trying to repair his shattered marriage to ditzy Carmel. Ricky is currently dating Hollyoaks co-star Carley Stenson. Paired with Natalie Lowe.
Odds 6/1
Chris Hollins, 38
To many Brits, Chris is one of the first people they see in the morning as one of the presenters of BBC Breakfast. The Bromley-native started out as a sportsman, playing football for Charlton, QPR and Aldershot Town, before moving to cricket while at Oxford University. He started his media career at Sky Sports in 1994 and worked at GMTV, Meridian and Five TV before joining the Beeb in 1999. Paired with Ola Jordan.
Odds 25/1
Richard Dunwoody, 45
Northern Irish Richard is one of Britain’s most successful jockeys. During the Eighties and Nineties, he won the Grand National, the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup. In 1993, he was honoured with an MBE. Paired with 2005 winner Lilia Kopylova.
Odds 33/1
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