Strictly Come Dancing series six
The celebrity contestants
The Men
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Andrew Castle (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Ola Jordan)
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Andrew is very much a housewives' favourite. The retired British
tennis player is currently seen in households across the country
each morning as he co-hosts ITV1's GMTV.
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The former British number
one in both singles and doubles became professional in 1986 and
later a key member of the BAFTA-nominated 91Èȱ¬ tennis team covering
Wimbledon, The Artois Championships at Queen's Club, The French
Open, Australian Open and The Davis Cup.
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Andrew says: "I don't
usually dance for fear of being categorised as an embarrassing
dad, but I'm getting tips from Fiona Phillips and Kate Garraway
who have both said that this show was the best thing that they
have ever done in their lives."
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Tom Chambers (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Camilla Dallerup)
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Tom is best known for playing the hospital lothario in 91Èȱ¬ÌýOne's
Holby City. His hearthrob status was sealed when his character
Sam Strachan romanced, and fathered the child of, his boss, as well
as engaging in several relationships with the ward sisters.
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A big
fan of dance and choreography, Tom has proved that he has his eye
on winning Strictly Come Dancing by postponing his wedding and
honeymoon plans.
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Tom says: "I had to tell my wedding guests that
it was because of my Holby filming commitments!"
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He adds: "I want
to become an excellent mover – I can't wait to learn ballroom and
wear the posh costumes. Hopefully I'll last longer in the
competition than I did on the celebrity Weakest Link where I was
voted off in the first round!"
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Phil Daniels (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Flavia Cacace)
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Phil is known to many people as Jimmy from cult film Quadrophenia,
whilst the Britpop generation know him as the voice on Blur's hit
single Parklife. More recently, he played Kevin Wicks in
91Èȱ¬ One's EastEnders.
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Phil made his acting debut in 1976 playing a waiter in
Bugsy Malone. He later did voiceovers for animated films such as
Chicken Run and appeared in comedy shows including Sunnyside Farm,
Time Gentlemen Please, Gimme Gimme Gimme and Outlaws.
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Phil joined
EastEnders in 2006 as Kevin Wicks, who brought up his three kids
single-handed when wife Shirley ran out on the family. His
character died in a car crash in a New Year's Eve storyline in
December 2007.
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Phil says: "I hope I will surprise myself and be
good at dancing – I just hope I don't fall over or forget the
steps!"
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Mark Foster (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Hayley Holt)
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Mark is arguably the most successful swimmer Britain has ever
produced. Six times a world champion, he has broken eight world
records and won 10 European Champion medals and two Commonwealth
Champion medals. He recently competed in his fifth Olympic games.
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Mark likes to be vocal about issues he feels strongly about and
warns the Strictly Come Dancing judges to watch out.
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Mark says: "I'm sure I'll enjoy some good natured banter with them. I was an
avid viewer when my friend Colin Jackson was the runner-up in
2005, and understand that this in a once-in-a-lifetime chance."
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Austin Healey (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Erin Boag)
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Austin is a former rugby union ace whose all-round talent made him
a regular fixture on the sport pages. He achieved recognition at
an early age playing for the England under-21s and became an
integral member of the Leicester team at 19.
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Austin was nicknamed "The Leicester Lip" because of his outspoken banter and "Mr Multi-Skilled" because he was so adaptable on the rugby pitch. Austin
went on to win an impressive 51 caps for England but injury
prevented him from winning the 2003 World Cup.
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Austin says: "I
miss the competitive element in my life now that I've retired from
rugby and this will bring that back. I will give 100%."
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Gary Rhodes (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Karen Hardy)
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Gary burst onto our TV screens 20 years ago with his unyielding
energy, trendy spiky quiff and estuary voice that made the world
of cookery seem very rock 'n' roll.
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Unquestionably one of the most
successful chefs in the country, Gary has won almost every
culinary accolade going, has been awarded four Michelin stars and
owns restaurants in London, Dublin and Grenada.
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He has also
authored 18 best-selling cookery books and is a major shareholder
(with his idol Sir Alex Ferguson) in an online restaurant booking
service.
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Gary has cooked for royalty, prime ministers, presidents
and all kinds of sporting personalities.
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Gary says: "I'm very
proud – and very scared! – to be taking part in Strictly this year
and I hope this leads to a great social pastime for my wife and I
to enjoy together."
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John Sergeant (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Kristina Rihanoff)
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John is one of Britain's most popular and respected broadcasters
and authors. His award-winning career as a political journalist
has been as lengthy as it has been successful and has seen him
interview heavyweight luminaries such as Margaret Thatcher, Tony
Blair and John Major.
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In recent years John has also become known
for his appearances on comedy panel shows such as Have I Got News
For You, QI and Room 101.
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John says: "I thought it was about time
that I did something a bit absurd… My wife is a huge fan of
Strictly Come Dancing and thinks I'm going to be terrible, but I'm
looking forward to the ballroom so I can feel taller and slimmer
in the Latin heels!"
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Don Warrington (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Lilia Kopylova)
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Don is best known for his role of Philip Smith in the sitcom
Rising Damp, co-starring the late Leonard Rossiter and Kate
Beckinsdale's late father, Richard Beckinsale.
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He has also
appeared in crime drama C.A.T.S. Eyes, New Street Law, Grange
Hill, Red Dwarf, Holby City and The Crouches.
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Renowned for his
deep, theatrical voice, Don has also performed with the National
Theatre, the English Shakespeare Company and Bristol Old Vic and regularly provides voice-overs for both 91Èȱ¬ TV and radio.
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Don was
awarded an MBE in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his
services to drama.
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Don says: "The last time I danced was a very
long time ago. I'm still learning to put one foot in front of the
other one!"
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The Women
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Christine Bleakley (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Matthew Cutler)
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Having co-hosted the 91Èȱ¬ Two talent show Let Me Entertain You,
Christine became a household name due to her role on 91Èȱ¬ One's The One Show.
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After working through the ranks, training as a floor manager and
runner to an assistant director, Christine appreciates all the
efforts that go in to a television production.
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Her break on The
One Show came when the producer asked if she could step into
Myleene Klass's shoes after Myleene unexpectedly went into labour.
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Christine says: "I might have looked calm on the outside but I was
shaking, and I suspect I will be the same on Strictly… I'm quite
shy but am looking forward to learning such a beautiful skill."
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Jodie Kidd (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Ian Waite)
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Jodie is one of Britain's most successful supermodels. Her
international modelling career has seen her grace the cover of
Elle Magazine in five countries, British Vogue, The Face and
Tatler to name a few.
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As well as a successful cover model she has
also taken to the catwalk for the world's greatest designers,
including Jasper Conran, Matthew Williamson, Valentino, Alexander
McQueen, Gucci, Givenchy, Moschino and Chanel.
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In recent years
Jodie decided to take a step back from modelling to pursue a
career in television, becoming a pundit and reporter for GMTV and
This Morning.
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This led to presenting and judging roles on The
Ultimate Bikini Guide, Red Bull Air Race, 91Èȱ¬'s Sport Relief and
Royal Ascot.
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Jodie says: "I'm a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing
and, if I'm away, my Saturday night just isn't the same!"
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Cherie Lunghi (Strictly Come Dancing partner is James Jordon)
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Cherie is a leading lady of stage and screen, appearing in
practically every popular drama series from Casualty and Cutting
It to Hotel Babylon.
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Cherie has also starred in Waking the Dead,
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries and Secret Diary Of A Call Girl.
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Film credits include Excalibur, Oliver Twist, The Mission and
Jack And Sarah.
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Cherie is also no stranger to the stage,
performing with luminaries including Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian
McKellen.
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Cherie says: "I think this will be tremendous fun! I
hope that me doing this inspires other women to kick off their
shoes and give dancing a whirl!"
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Heather Small (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Brian Fortuna)
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As a member of pop group M People, Heather sold several million
records, won two Brit Awards, a Mercury Music Prize award and
performed across the globe winning an army of fans.
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With hits such
as Moving On Up, One Night In Heaven and Search For The
Hero, Heather became one of the seminal British voices of the
Nineties.
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As a solo artist, Heather performed Proud when Britain
won the Olympic bid.
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Heather says: "I occasionally suffer from
stage fright and, if left to my own devices, I would probably say
no to anything scary.
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"However, everyone said I should give it a
go, so I thought, why not? I just hope my nerves don't get the
better of me."
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Lisa Snowdon (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Brendan Cole)
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As well as being one of the UK's top models, Lisa has also carved
out a successful career in television.
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Starting on MTV Select,
Lisa began to hone her presenting skills and worked on shows such
as LA Pool Party, Top Of The Pops, This Morning, Britain's Next
Top Model, Through The Keyhole and Celebrity Apprentice on 91Èȱ¬
One for Sports Relief.
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Whilst modelling, Lisa has appeared in
Vogue, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan.
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Lisa says: "I never miss
an episode of Strictly. I'm honoured to be involved this year; I
will put my heart and soul into it."
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Rachel Stevens (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Vincent Simone)
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At the age of 19, Rachel became a member of the British pop
group S Club 7. The band went on to have 12 Top 10 hits, released
five albums and won two Brit Awards.
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Their TV series was
broadcast in 110 countries and they sold 16 million records
worldwide, releasing four No.1 hit singles in the UK.
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In
2003, when the group disbanded, Rachel went on to a successful
solo career and also turned her hand to acting, starring in Seeing
Double, Suzie Gold and Deuce Bigalow, European Gigolo.
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Rachel
says: "Just because you've been on stage doesn't mean you can
dance. For the first time ever, I'm doing something completely on
my own and it's scary. I've always had other band members or
dancers around me before.
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"I would be thrilled if I won, but I
can't think that far ahead. I'm taking each training session as it
comes and I'm looking forward to the sexy dances like the rumba."
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Gillian Taylforth (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Anton du Beke)
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Gillian is the queen of the soaps with more than 20 years
starring in Britain's most popular TV shows.
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She has played Kathy
Mitchell in EastEnders, Jackie Pascoe-Webb in ITV1's Footballers'
Wives and, more recently, Sgt Nikki Wright in ITV1's The Bill.
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Gillian later appeared in the comedy drama Jane Hall and also
appeared as a recurring panellist on ITV's topical chat show Loose
Women.
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Her brother had a premonition that she was invited to
appear on Strictly Come Dancing.
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Gillian says: "In his dream I
didn't win the show, but apparently didn't do too badly, so I'm
hoping his premonition becomes a reality!"
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She adds: "‘My son
thinks I'll be an embarrassment but I thought it was about time I
had a bit of fun doing something I enjoy. I've got my foot spa
ready to look after my tired and pained feet!"
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Jessie Wallace (Strictly Come Dancing partner is Darren Bennett)
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Jessie is best known for her role as Kat Slater in 91Èȱ¬ One's EastEnders,
which she played for five years.
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Her career started in
entertainment as a make-up artist at the Royal Shakespeare
Company but she went on to drama college where she graduated
in 1999.
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Jessie's first television appearance was in an episode of
The Bill for ITV, and her EastEnders role was her second.
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Since
leaving the soap in November 2005, Jessie has starred in 91Èȱ¬ One
television dramas A Class Apart and The Dinner Party, plus Wild At
Heart for ITV1.
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Jessie is no stranger to winning after she scooped
awards at the British Soap Awards four years in a row.
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She says: "I've always wanted to do Strictly, all those amazing dresses and
the fantastic make-up, it's going to be masses of fun and what a
great way to keep fit!"
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