EXCLUSIVE: Highly-respected Jill Rose Jacobs has five decades of dance expertise and she talks to us about every contestant’s chances with Strictly Come Dancing about to begin
Strictly Come Dancing is about to really get going – so who’s going all the way?(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
The pairings are picked, the sequins have been shimmered and it’s nearly time for curtain-up – Strictly Come Dancing gets going for real this weekend.
After Saturday’s lunch show, we now know which dance pro has been placed with which celebrity and the predictions are starting to come in. The race for the Glitterball looks set to be intense, with Dani Dyer the early favourite with the bookies.
But what about the dance experts? We asked Jill Rose Jacobs, a former professor of dance at New York University who is now based in the UK, who she is tipping to go the distance – and to call the stars heading for home very early.
The countdown is on with Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas all return to critique the performances, and after Saturday’s soft launch, things are about to get tough!
But who will they have the claws out for, and which star is about to knock their socks off? Jill gives us the pre-series run-down of every celebrity who has signed up, and tells us why they could fly… or badly flop!
Lacey Turner
Lacey is 38, which is a really good age for a woman to be on the show. But she doesn’t look super-athletic to me, and she hasn’t had professional dance training, but you get the feeling she is going to show up and work hard. Is she strong? I fear she could be one of the earlier women to be eliminated.
Dani Dyer
Dani is a little younger than Stacey. We know she was injured last year, and they usually come from either impact or fatigue. She is beautiful and dynamic, and could have a regular fitness routine. But the fact that she was injured last time tells me perhaps her stamina leaves a question mark.
Delta Goodrem
She’s 41, a really good age. Beautiful, confident and really accomplished. She knows herself. I really think this is going to be someone to watch this series. She knows what it means to excel; that’s her ethic. I think this woman is really going to show up!
Chris Appleton
He is also early 40s, and he is interesting. He’s very sexy, and women are going to love him. Perhaps a big cocky? If he is too cocky, could we love to see him fall? He is an extremely high-level hair stylist. This guy does not fold under pressure. He’s also a New York Times best-selling author. He’s very well connected – it’s not just about the dancing, it’s about the popularity.
Cach Mercer
I think he is going to be someone to watch, but here comes the big question. He is trained in hip-hop and Afro beats. Is that going to transfer to the ballroom? It’s very different. He is going to understand the music and is going to be able to do the choreography, but it’s the movement. Will it translate? In any event, it looks like he is going to have a media presence. That could carry him through the competition by itself. He must have a media presence for a reason. He must be cool and dynamic. He is someone to watch.
Will Best
He is also around that 40 mark. Super nice guy, he is going to be musical but he is also going to be an early elimination I think. Sorry! I really like him a lot, but he has nothing to hang the competition on technically. He has no dance skills. Where do you put the choreography without the experience?
Dame Sarah Storey
Dame Sarah will be a fantastic competitor. She will need to connect with the audience, but she has a following. I don’t doubt she will be good – but has she got that something extra the audience will relate to? When I look at her, I don’t see her disability holding her back. But can she get the people voting for her? She looks such a nice woman, but I think she will be in for a while.
Jaime Winstone
She’s also 41, there’s a few of that age! Jaime seems to know herself, and this show could change the trajectory of her career. She holds a diploma from a Performing Arts school, so she has some dance background, even if it’s buried in the past. She’ll be a confident performer, and I think she’ll do well.
Bethany Antonia
At 28, one of the younger contestants. I think she will be staying in, this is somebody to watch! As a professional dancer, it doesn’t always go down well on Strictly. There can be a bias against that. But this is a young woman who has it together – I’m not sure we’re going to stop ourselves from liking her. She is poised and elegant. This is somebody to keep an eye on but this is one key question – is she going to improve enough week by week after racing out of the blocks?
Shaun Wright-Phillips
Former footballer? They don’t usually do too well. I don’t like to say it but I think he is a likely early exit. Perhaps second. It’s a completely different training to what he has done his whole life. Football and dancing are two very different things. One is a physical sport, one is an art. You need to tell a story with your body, that’s what dance is. That crossover at that high level is hard. They feel ridiculous, footballers have a big problem and try to muscle through it.
Graeme ‘The Dogfather’ Hall
I think he has a personality and the audience are going to connect to him. They are going to love him. But…. I think he will be an early elimination. Strictly is as much about the drama as it is the dancing. Physically, I don’t know how he can go too far but it’s also all about the partner. He needs a very strong relationship.
Lawrence Robb
He’s got the look, he is physically active and the girls are going to love him. My question is, what about his athletic ability? He did Legally Blonde on the West End so he has dance training. He’ll be popular, and I think he will be charming. I think he will be in for a while and could be one of the stronger males this year.
Tabby Stoecker
I could be wrong here – I think she’ll be in for a while, but not that long. She has circus skills, trapeze and juggling. This is about story telling and her story. There’s a question mark for me. I’ve not selected too many women to go early, but I think Tabby could be the first female to leave us. The men will go first.
John Nellis
I think he will be the first to be eliminated. I could still change my mind after the first week. He has no dance on his CV – I can live with that – but he also has no music. I don’t think he has any stage experience. He has a media presence, but it’s sports. He has a number of million followers, but how many will be watching? I’m surprised he said he would do Strictly with his background. He’s got balls!
Melanie Walters
She’s another one to watch. I have another question – why are they downplaying Melanie’s dance and choreography background? They really are. Are they trying to help her? She’s been to the States on stage, she looks like a personality. People loved her in Gavin and Stacey.
And the winner is……
It’s not easy before you have seen anyone dance, but my top four tips to go far are Melanie, Delta, Bethany and Cach.
If you put me on the spot and asked me to pick the winner, I would say Cach.
I could be totally wrong. It’s a fast-paced show. I couldn’t imagine how difficult it is.
