So great to have Strictly back again; on TV

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Sept 22, 2008

THE nights are drawing in and autumn's here - which can only mean one thing. It's time for some glitz and glamour on the telly with the return of Strictly Come Dancing.

The programme burst back on to our screens like a glitter bomb on Saturday, with sprightly Bruce Forsyth and glamorous sidekick Tess Daly once again at the helm.

The BBC1 show - which started in 2004 - is fast becoming a national institution and is now in its sixth series Last year more than 12 million people watched singer Alesha Dixon triumph over Eastenders actor Matt Di Angelo in the Strictly final.

First out this year was former Eastender Phil Daniels, voted off last night.

On Saturday, we were introduced to the 16 couples. One half of each couple is a celebrity plucked from the fields of sport, stage and screen - all determined to do what it takes to become ballroom king or queen.

Here, we profile the contenders to see what we can expect from them in the coming weeks.

GARY RHODES Gary was inspired to take part after watching fellow chef James Martin get to week nine in series three. But he's found it's a bit more challenging then cookery.

"Whatever I was doing before, this is a whole new experience." Gary has the physique of a bodybuilder under his chef's whites, but he insists it won't help him much on the dancefloor. "I thought I was quite fit before I started this. But all of a sudden my thighs were in agony."

The 48-year-old does have a slight advantage, being paired with Karen Hardy, who won series four with cricketer Mark Ramprakash.

RACHEL STEVENS Former S Club 7 member Rachel moved back from Los Angeles last year just in time to sign up for the show. But Rachel, 30, who's paired with Italian Vincent Simone, says her career onstage hasn't prepared her in any way for the demands of Strictly.

"Oh my God! There's so much to learn.

Obviously I've done dancing but it's so different. It's very technical and there are so many things you have to think about. It's like contortion, it's so alien to put your body into these positions. This is knackering."

Rachel, who has tried her hand at acting in films like Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, says she would be thrilled to win..

JOHN SERGEANT At 64, John is the elder statesman of the group - and this is the third time he has been asked to take part. So what made the former ITN political editor finally give in?

"The first times I was asked I thought 'how absurd!'. I couldn't dance, I was totally unfit.

But this time I thought isn't it time to do something absurd and have a bit of fun, when I've devoted so much of my broadcasting time to serious topics?"

It helped that his dance partner is new professional and blonde bombshell Kristina Rihanoff. He says: "When I saw her I thought 'ooh, this is going to be all right!"

MARK FOSTER He's only just returned from the Beijing Olympics, but the world champion swimmer is already hoping to add a dancing trophy to his cabinet.

"When I do anything, whether it's chess or golf or pool, I start off wanting to win," admits the toned 38-year-old, who carried the British flag at the Olympics' opening ceremony.

"I've learnt over the years that you don't always win. But the focus is always being the best you can be."

Despite being physically fit and getting expert tuition from new dancer Hayley Holt, Mark says dancing is completely out of his comfort zone.

JODIE KIDD The polo-playing, race car-driving supermodel grew up watching her grandparents waltz around the ballroom and jumped at the chance to take part.

"It's such a beautiful art and it's really fascinated me," she says.

But for someone whose career has been about poise and grace, the 29-year-old admits she is finding the training tough.

"It's really difficult, because now I'm used to sitting in race cars or walking round golf courses, and this is about your hands and getting in touch with your feminine side. It's a complete retraining of your brain."

AUSTIN HEALY There seems to be a sort of bizarre link between hoofing a ball around and being extremely graceful on the dance floor. Matt Dawson made it to the final in series four and last year fellow rugby player Kenny Logan got to week nine.

Former England international Austin Healy, 34, who is married with four children, says he can take the pressure.

"Amazingly all the guys have been really supportive. We're all different. Matt and Kenny are both methodical people, I'm the sort of person who feels his way into things."

JESSIE WALLACE Jessie is one of three ex-EastEnders taking part this year. But Jessie, known for her role as Kat Slater, says she's not bothered about the competition, she's more concerned about viewers getting to know the real her.

"This is a chance for people to see me as me and not the characters I've played," she says.

Her No. 1 fan, besides dance partner Darren Bennett, will be her three-year-old daughter Tallulah, when she gets used to mummy's new style.

LISA SNOWDON Best known for her relationship with Hollywood heart-throb George Clooney, model and Capital FM presenter Lisa has been paired with Kiwi lothario Brendan Cole, who famously fell for Natasha Kaplinsky in the first series.